Tropical storms rarely survive in the cool water off California, but waves from storms far to the south can still damaged coastal areas. And flooding rain can sweep in.
Storms big and small can produce a lot of rain. What matters most is how fast they’re moving, as an atmospheric scientist and educator explains.
The Hurricane Hunters are specialist aircrews that fly into tropical cyclones to collect vital measurements.
Only Hurricane Patricia, in 2015, was stronger, with a central pressure of 872 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 215 mph.
Cooler ocean temperatures east of the islands typically keep major hurricanes away, but El Niño is helping fuel this year’s risks.
The Category 2 event was located 135 miles southwest of LÄ«hu'e, Hawaii, sustaining 110 mph winds.
Warming in the Eastern Pacific Ocean caused by El Niño created conditions for storms to develop in this region.