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.
.jpeg)
Read Next
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 it—Alaska!
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.
James J. Garriss
ADVERTISEMENT
Living in Hawaii I can tell you these storms passing around us and the high ocean temps. have been causing the highest temperatures ever recorded in the state. Many of us do not have AC because we did not need it but starting last year the weather has changed and living without AC is unbearable. Also, we have the highest rainfall recorded for the state. So, for the past few months, paradise has been lost. Hope the change is not permanent.
The good news is that El Ninos are relatively short-lived, rarely lasting two years. Meanwhile, I hope you are able to get some cooling breezes.
Unfortunately, this year's El Nino brought way too much rain to us in Northeast Indiana, so something like 25% of the region's corn crop has been lost to flooding. The good new for us is that after the last two very cold winters we will hopefully see milder temperatures this coming winter, although El Nino usually brings a lot of snow (which we also had the past two winters).
It usually brings milder mid-winter temperatures. Indiana really got hit -- spring floods and a huge early summer loop of tropical moisture. Hopefully, if this event lasts into next spring, as most experts expect, it won't be as wet.
Would El Nino have had anything to do with the recent wind storm on the lower mainland of B.C.?
