Powerful Pacific Storms Threaten Mexico and Hawaii Amid Historic El Niño Conditions

The Pacific hurricane season is unusually active, with El Niño contributing to warmer-than-normal waters and above-average storm activity. Hurricane Polo, fluctuating between Category 4 and 5, has drenched Mexico’s Pacific coast and is expected to turn toward Baja California; Tropical Storm Nolo threatens Hawaii’s Big Island with 10 to 15 inches of rain and gusts up to 50 mph, with potentially catastrophic flooding and tropical-storm conditions expected to begin Friday evening. In the Atlantic, forecasters are monitoring two areas for possible tropical development, but neither is currently expected to affect the United States. A separate non-tropical or hybrid low could bring strong winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding to parts of New England and the northern Mid-Atlantic this weekend.
Three Pacific hurricanes have reached Category 5 strength this year, tying a record set in 2002.
University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy said the current El Niño could become the strongest on record, peak this winter and persist into 2027.
El Niño weakens or can reverse the Pacific’s usual east-to-west low-level winds, shifting the jet stream; forecasters also said El Niño conditions tend to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, which has been virtually silent this year.
One Atlantic area being monitored is a low tied to a tropical wave southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands; regardless of development, it could bring gusty winds and heavy rain to the islands by the end of the week.
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