El Niño: Giant Pacific Hurricanes on Parade

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NASA
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This is the only time on record that a parade of giant Category 4 hurricanes is strolling through the Pacific.

Here in the continental US, El Niños make us happy. The event means fewer Atlantic Hurricanes and more rainfall for our gardens. But in the state of Hawaii, El Niños are scary. See those little islands below? Yep, that’s Hawaii, trying to dodge the deadly winds and destructive tidal surges.

Giant hurricanes strolling through the Pacific Source: NASA’s Earth Observatory

El Niño and Hurricanes: A Double-Edged Sword

The problem is that while an El Niño creates high level winds that limit hurricanes in the Western Atlantic, it creates winds that encourage hurricane formation in the Eastern and Central Pacific. The hot waters and good winds have made the Pacific a playground for hurricanes in the eastern waters and typhoons in the west.

Fortunately none of the storms hit Hawaii directly, Central Pacific Hurricane Kilo didn’t get powerful until it passed Hawaii. It strolled over to Japan, kicked up some high surf and may live to the ripe old age (for a tropical storm) of three weeks. East Pacific Hurricane Ignacio wimped out into a tropical storm and missed a direct hit, just producing high surf and heavy rain. Finally East Pacific Hurricane Jimena has veered north of the islands and threatens to dump a lot of rain on the already drenched islands. (Central and Eastern Pacific hurricanes get their names from different lists.)

Hurricane Ignacio’s remnants are expected to hit Southern Alaska.

Ignacio, is currently breaking out of the parade. It is veering north and its remnants are expected to hit—wait for itAlaska!

Tropical Storm Kevin (off the coast of Mexico) is skipping the parade and hitting the monsoon.

Meanwhile, in back of the big three was a small rebel that didn’t join the march. The Southwest monsoon sucked up Tropical Storm Kevin. Instead of parading the Pacific, Kevin’s remnants are now bringing welcome rainfall to the lawns and gardens of the Desert Southwest, Texas and Kansas.

About The Author

James J. Garriss

With an academic background in international business, James is a writer, editor and researcher for Browning Media LLC, helping to present accurate climatological projections. Read More from James J. Garriss

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