The 1994 Pacific hurricane season was the final season of the eastern north Pacific's consecutive active hurricane seasons that started in 1982. The season officially started on May 15, 1994, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The first tropical cyclone formed on June 18, while the last system dissipated on October 26. This season, twenty-two tropical cyclones formed in the north Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, with all but two becoming tropical storms or hurricanes. A total of 10 hurricanes occurred, including five major hurricanes. The above average activity in 1994 was attributed to the formation of the Spring to late Summer–early Fall 1994 El Niño.

Of note in this season is an unusual spree of very intense storms; the season was the first on record to see more than one Category 5 hurricane, as well as the first of four to see three Category 5 hurricanes, a feat later repeated in 2002, 2018 and 2026 seasons. Hurricanes Emilia, Gilma, John, and Olivia all reached a pressure below 930 millibars. Hurricane John was the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone on record at . Elsewhere, Hurricane Rosa caused four casualties in Mexico as the basin's only landfalling tropical storm or hurricane and was later responsible for flooding in Texas.

Season summary

This season, 22 tropical cyclones formed in the north Pacific Ocean east of the dateline. All but two of them became tropical storms or hurricanes. In the Eastern Pacific region (140°W to North America), nineteen tropical depressions formed, of which seventeen became tropical storms, nine further intensifying into hurricanes, and five ultimately reaching major hurricanes of Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. These numbers are slightly above the long-term averages of fifteen tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.

In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility (140°W to the International Date Line), three depressions, two tropical storms, and one hurricane formed. Overall, there were eleven tropical cyclones, eight tropical storms, five hurricanes, and three major hurricanes that formed or entered the Central Pacific region. These numbers are well above the long-term average of four tropical cyclones, two hurricanes, one tropical storm, and two depressions. The exceptionally high activity was contributed to by an El Niño ongoing at the time.

The only named storm to make landfall this year was Hurricane Rosa, which killed four people in Western Mexico and forced over 400 to be evacuated. Other notable storms include Hurricane Olivia, a high-end Category 4 system, the three Category 5 hurricanes Emilia, Gilma, and John. Both John and Hurricane Li existed in two of the three basins (East, and West) of the Pacific Ocean.

This season marked the end of the Northeastern Pacific's most recent active period, which began in 1982, and at the time, included the five most active Pacific hurricane seasons. Beginning in 1995, multi-decadal factors switched to a phase that suppressed Pacific hurricane activity. After 1994, Pacific hurricane seasons were generally below normal, with the exception of 1997, until 2014.

The 1994 Pacific hurricane season set several records. First, three hurricanes reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, setting a record later tied in 2002, then tied again in 2018. Second, Hurricane John lasted longer and spent more time tropical than any other tropical cyclone on Earth in recorded history. However, the former record was later surpassed by Cyclone Freddy in 2023. Third, 11 tropical cyclones entered or formed in the central Pacific, a record shared with the 1992 season until the 2015 season broke the record. Finally, of the four most intense hurricanes recorded in the Central Pacific, three of them occurred this season.

The season began with the formation of Tropical Depression One-E on June 18 and ended with the dissipation of Tropical Depression Nona on October 26. No named systems formed in May, three in June, four in July, five in August, six in September, two in October, and none in November. The total length of the season, from the formation of the first depression to the dissipation of the last, was 130 days. Moreover, the total accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) of this season was 185*104 kt2, qualifying this season as above-normal.

Systems

Tropical Storm Aletta

Tropical Depression One-E formed from an area of disturbed weather on June 18. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Aletta the next day. It continued intensifying and reached its peak intensity on June 20. Vertical wind shear began to weaken the storm thereafter. The weakening trend continued, weakening Aletta to a depression on June 21. The system dissipated June 23. Aletta's remnant low, however, could be tracked on satellite images for days following the storm. The low finally dissipated north of Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Bud

Tropical Depression Two-E formed on June 27 about south-southwest of the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. The depression headed west-northwest, gradually turned to the northwest, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Bud on June 27. Early the next day, Bud peaked in intensity. Shear caused by a nearby upper-level low slowly weakened Bud. Later on June 28, a second center of circulation developed. The two centers started a Fujiwhara interaction. The second center then became dominant and the first one vanished. This confused structure is similar to what happened to Tropical Storm Arlene (1993). This confused structure also weakened Bud to a tropical depression on the afternoon of the same day the second center formed. Bud then headed westward over cool waters and dissipated on June 29. Tropical Storm Bud spent its entire life over the open ocean far from land areas.

Hurricane Carlotta

The tropical depression that would be Carlotta formed on June 28, which quickly became a tropical storm. Carlotta buffeted Socorro Island with sustained winds of on June 30. A large eye became visible. Because of this, the NHC upgraded the storm to a hurricane. Carlotta peaked in intensity on July 1, as a hurricane. It gradually weakened as it moved into cooler waters, dissipating on July 5. Carlotta did not threaten land.

Tropical Storm Daniel

On July 8, a disturbance located about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula developed a circulation and became Tropical Depression Four-E. Convection increased, and the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Daniel. Upper-level outflow improved, and Daniel peaked in intensity on July 9. Daniel slowly declined as it continued westward. It entered the central Pacific on July 11. Wind shear weakened Daniel as it approached the Big Island, and by July 15 had degenerated into an open wave.

When Daniel was approaching Hawaii, moderate surf of impacted the south and southeast shores of the Big Island on July 13 and 14. Daniel's remnants also passed about south of South Point, Hawaii, on July 15. That day, they caused rainfall on windward slopes of the Big Island locally reaching .

Hurricane Emilia

On June 29, a weak tropical wave exited the west African coast and traversed the Atlantic, showing no signs of organization or convective activity. Moving within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the tropical disturbance remained inactive until July 14, when it developed into an area of low pressure roughly east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. A low-level circulation became evident, and the system was designated as a tropical depression on July 16. Within 12 hours, satellite imagery suggested that the system had intensified into Tropical Storm Emilia with sustained winds. Emilia steadily intensified into a minimal hurricane by the next morning, as it moved west-northwest. At 18:00 UTC, Emilia was upgraded to Category 2 status as it crossed 140°W and entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) area of responsibility, which noted that Emilia was "well developed." Emilia then proceeded to rapidly intensify, with maximum sustained winds increasing from over the next 48 hours. At Emilia's peak strength, an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft measured a minimum central pressure of , the lowest pressure ever recorded in a Central Pacific hurricane at that time.

On July 20, Emilia briefly weakened into a Category 4 hurricane, but it was re-upgraded to Category 5 status by the CPHC 12 hours later during the day. Subsequently, Emilia began to weaken for the final time. An upper-level trough in the westerlies caused the cyclone to turn northwest on July 21. Emilia moved over progressively cooler waters, and vertical wind shear from the westerlies negatively impacted the hurricane. The central pressure steadily rose to , and Emilia diminished into a marginal Category 3 hurricane. On July 22, Emilia continued to weaken, and it passed within of the Big Island. It was the closest approach to the islands. Later, Emilia's peak winds dropped to . Emilia gradually turned west-northwest, and the circulation moved with the trade winds. Emilia weakened into a tropical depression on July 24, and a remnant swirl of stratocumulus clouds was noted. The system dissipated on the same day.

While Emilia passed south of Hawaii, swells of were reported near the Puna and Ka‘ū coasts. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu reported a high surf. Surf was lower along the Kona and Kohala coasts. Winds were gusty, causing a few trees to be blown over and branches to be broken. Some minor roof damage was caused by the winds. International observatories and the Keck Telescope on the top of Mauna Kea were forced to close their domes due to the high winds. Rainfall ranged from light to moderate.

Tropical Storm Fabio

A tropical depression formed on July 19. Later that day, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Fabio. Fabio headed generally west or northwestward. It entered the central Pacific as a tropical depression, and dissipated on July 24.

Fabio's remnants brought locally heavy rainfall to Hawaii, reaching .

Hurricane Gilma

A tropical wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean in mid-July, entering the eastern Pacific by July 16. Afterward, thunderstorms increased, followed by gradual development. On July 21, the NHC designated the system as Tropical Depression Seven-E, southwest of the Baja California peninsula. A strong ridge steered the system westward, which would remain the same throughout most of the storm's existence. Following an increase in organization, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Gilma early on July 22. The storm developed deep convection and rainbands, and only 24 hours after becoming a tropical storm, Gilma intensified into a hurricane. Low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures of led to rapid intensification. A small, well-defined eye developed within the center of the hurricane, surrounded by very deep convection. On July 24, Gilma entered the central Pacific, and soon after attained its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of and a barometric pressure estimated at 920 mbar (hPa; ). After maintaining this intensity for roughly 12 hours, Gilma weakened due to wind shear. Late on July 27, Gilma fell to tropical storm status, and by the next day its circulation was exposed from the thunderstorms. Late on July 28, Gilma approached within of Johnston Atoll. The island received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force, and surf. The storm weakened to tropical depression status on July 30, and dissipated the next day to the south of Midway Atoll.

Hurricane Li