Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Pacific cyclone season has recorded 20 named storms, surpassing the 1991-2020 average.
- Hurricane Polo made landfall in Baja California as a category 2 storm, bringing severe weather conditions.
- Hurricane Nolo caused significant rain in Hawaii but avoided a major impact, with ongoing flood risks from storm remnants in the U.S.
Pacific Cyclone Season Intensifies
The 2026 tropical cyclone season in the northeastern and central Pacific basins has proven to be exceptionally active. By September 28, there had been 20 named storms, nine of which reached hurricane strength. This is significantly higher than the 1991-2020 average of 13.5 named storms and 7.4 hurricanes for that date.
As observed from NASA’s EPIC satellite on September 27, both Hurricane Nolo near Hawaii and Hurricane Polo off the Baja California peninsula were impacting land with high winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. In addition, Tropical Storm Rachel and Post-Tropical Cyclone Odalys were enhancing dangerous conditions along Mexico’s coast and in the southwestern U.S.
Hurricane Polo made landfall in Baja California Sur around 11 p.m. local time on September 28, after rapidly intensifying to category 5 status on September 22. As it approached land, Polo weakened to a category 2 storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued warnings for dangerous winds, storm surges, and heavy rains that could lead to flooding and mudslides in areas of Baja California Sur and Sonora.
Polo’s remnants are expected to produce widespread rainfall across the southwestern U.S. and southern Plains, compounding flood risks. Following Polo, Tropical Storm Rachel tracked along the coast of southwest Mexico, raising concerns about strong winds and hazardous surf conditions.
Hurricane Nolo, which came close to Hawaii, delivered over 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain to parts of Maui and the Island of Hawaiʻi. While it caused road flooding, fallen trees, and landslides, the islands were fortunate to escape the severe impacts that Hurricane Lala had earlier inflicted in August.
According to Colorado State University’s data, the accumulated cyclone energy in the Northeast Pacific is currently over twice the normal. This upsurge is attributed to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, starting in June, which creates conducive conditions for cyclone development with warm waters and low wind shear.
The NASA Disasters Program, in conjunction with FEMA, is assisting Hawaii’s response efforts to Hurricane Nolo. Maps and data will be made available through an open-access mapping portal as updates are provided.
For additional information, agencies such as the National Hurricane Center have ongoing advisories on Hurricane Polo and Nolo, highlighting their impacts and future storm trajectories.
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