Pacific Storm Forms
Tropical Storm Douglas Forms in Pacific Ocean, Strengthens, Poses No Threat to Land
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Tropical Storm Douglas formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, becoming the fourth named storm of the 2026 season. The storm poses no threat to land, according to National Hurricane Center. It sits roughly 1,220 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — far out to sea.
Douglas has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a central pressure of 1,003 mb. National Hurricane Center forecasters expect some strengthening before the storm gradually turns northwest and weakens over cooler waters.
Douglas Forms Far From Shore in Deep Pacific
The National Hurricane Center upgraded the system from Tropical Depression Four-E to Tropical Storm Douglas on July 1 at 2:00 PM Pacific time. At that point, winds climbed to 40 mph. The storm's tropical storm wind field extends about 90 miles from its center, KETV reported.
Forecasters say Douglas will gradually turn northwest over the next few days. It is then expected to weaken into a post-tropical system by Thursday as it moves over cooler water. WISN noted the storm is forecast to fully dissipate by July 6.
El Niño Is Supercharging the 2026 Pacific Season
Douglas is no surprise. NOAA declared a "Super El Niño" in June 2026, with a 63% chance it becomes a very strong event by winter. El Niño warms Pacific waters and cuts wind shear — the force that tears storms apart. That combination fuels more and stronger Pacific hurricanes.
Central Pacific sea surface temperatures are running 2°C to 3°C above historical averages right now. NOAA predicts 5 to 13 tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific this season. Experts warn the next system to form could develop much closer to the coast, where water temperatures are breaking daily records.
Indirect Hazards Still Reach Mexico's Tourist Beaches
The National Hurricane Center says Douglas is no threat to land. But Mexican Civil Protection officials are warning of a different danger: rough surf and dangerous rip currents along the beaches of Los Cabos. These "indirect effects" will not appear in standard NHC headlines, according to WBALTV.
Marine warnings are in effect across the Eastern Pacific. High seas extend up to 120 nautical miles from Douglas's center in its southeast quadrant — a real risk for commercial ships traveling between Mexico and Hawaii. Coastal tourists should stay out of the water in affected areas.
AI Models Now Help Track Pacific Storms in Real Time
The NHC used Google DeepMind's WeatherNext AI model as a key forecasting aid for Douglas, alongside traditional tools like the HCCA consensus model. This marks a growing shift in how meteorologists track storms. The AI model is credited with better predicting rapid intensity changes — when storms suddenly grow much stronger.
Traditional meteorologists still treat physics-based models as the gold standard for public safety. But tech-focused analysts argue AI tools are now outperforming them on the hardest calls. For now, the NHC uses both — blending human judgment with machine learning to produce its official forecasts, WMUR reported.
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