3 Pacific Hurricanes Churn as El Niño Has 69% Chance to Become Strongest on Record
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Sep 4
3 Pacific Hurricanes Churn as El Niño Has 69% Chance to Become Strongest on Record
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Sep 4
Summary
Lowell, Karina and Marie were all active Friday in the Pacific, with Lowell forecast to swing north toward Oahu and Kauai this weekend after peaking at Category 5 and weakening to Category 3.
NOAA says this year’s El Niño has a 69% chance of becoming the strongest on record, and scientists say unusually warm Pacific waters are fueling more storm formation and stronger intensification.
Karina has weakened to Category 2 east of Hawaii and is expected to fade further over 48 hours, while Marie—about 400 miles off Baja California—is strengthening and could send strong swells into Mexico and possibly Southern California.
Hawaii faces the threat while still recovering from recent flooding, including more than 25 inches of rain in parts of Oahu and over 19 inches in parts of Maui in March.
Climate Central estimates about 94% of the Pacific has seen marine heat-wave conditions since January, a backdrop scientists say is amplifying El Niño’s storm-friendly Pacific pattern while keeping the Atlantic relatively quiet.