NASA Satellite Captures 3 Pacific Cyclones as El Niño Drives 15 Named Storms
Updated
Updated · Science@NASA · Sep 4
NASA Satellite Captures 3 Pacific Cyclones as El Niño Drives 15 Named Storms
2 articles · Updated · Science@NASA · Sep 4
Summary
NASA’s EPIC camera on the DSCOVR satellite imaged three tropical cyclones in the Pacific at once on Sept. 1—Lowell, Karina and Marie—along with Atlantic Tropical Storm Edouard.
15 named storms and six hurricanes had formed in the Northeast Pacific by Sept. 3, while the Atlantic had logged just five named storms and no hurricanes, matching spring forecasts for an El Niño-shaped season.
Lowell briefly reached Category 5 strength on Sept. 2 and Karina hit Category 4 around the same time, a rare simultaneous pairing of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the region.
Edouard, visible over Louisiana and Texas after landfall, dumped 15 to 24 inches of rain in some areas and knocked down trees and power lines.
ACE data underscored the split: the Northeast Pacific stood at 130, about 50% above normal, while the Atlantic was 4.4—roughly 9% of normal—as El Niño warmed Pacific waters and increased Atlantic wind shear.