Daily News 19

Tag: Hurricane Marie

  • Pacific Hurricanes Active, Atlantic Season Still Without Storms This Year

    Pacific Hurricanes Active, Atlantic Season Still Without Storms This Year

    Three Simultaneous Pacific Hurricanes Contrast with Quiet Atlantic Season

    An unusual meteorological pattern has emerged across the Pacific and Atlantic basins. Three hurricanes are currently active in the Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic remains hurricane-free well into September—a rare occurrence in the satellite era.

    Pacific Basin Sees Three Active Hurricanes

    Category 1 Hurricane Marie, Category 3 Hurricane Karina, and Category 4 Hurricane Lowell are all spinning in the Pacific simultaneously. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), having three hurricanes at once is highly unusual; the annual average is only eight Pacific hurricanes total. This phenomenon last occurred in 2015, when three Category 4 hurricanes existed concurrently.

    The NHC notes significant uncertainty regarding Hurricane Lowell’s potential track, making it too early to determine any impacts on Hawaii. Meanwhile, Hurricanes Marie and Karina are expected to remain over open waters with no current threat to land.

    Atlantic Hurricane Season Remains Historically Quiet

    In stark contrast, the Atlantic basin has not produced a single hurricane so far this season. This marks only the eighth year since satellite monitoring began around 1960 that the Atlantic has entered September without a hurricane formation. Forecast models indicate continued quiet conditions for at least the next seven days.

    This lull creates a possibility of breaking the record for the latest first Atlantic hurricane formation, currently held by September 11 in both 2002 and 2013.

    Tropical Storm Edouard Impacts Gulf Coast

    While the Atlantic lacks hurricanes, Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall in Louisiana at 11:25 UTC (12:25 BST) on September 1. The storm brought strong wind gusts, heavy rainfall, and flooding primarily to southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. The highest recorded wind gust reached 69 mph at the Beaumont/Port Arthur airport.

    Impacts included widespread power outages and school closures. Flash flooding remains a continuing risk across east-central Texas throughout the week.

    Extreme Heat Grips Southern Texas

    Separate from tropical weather, parts of Texas are under an extreme heat warning. Heat index values—which measure how hot conditions feel when humidity combines with air temperature—have reached 46°C (114.8°F) at the state’s southern tip. The National Weather Service has identified heat-related illnesses as the primary health concern.

    Europe Records Warmest Summer on Record

    Across the Atlantic, Europe has just concluded its warmest summer since records began. The United Kingdom, France, and Belgium have all shattered mean temperature records by significant margins. France exceeded its previous 2003 record by 0.8°C, while the UK surpassed its 2025 record by 0.4°C. Additional national records are expected as more data becomes available.

  • Marie Won’t Hit California, but Some Impacts Are Possible

    Marie Won’t Hit California, but Some Impacts Are Possible

    Hurricane Marie is unlikely to reach California, but the storm could still affect the region over the holiday weekend. Possible impacts include high surf, coastal flooding, rip currents, and perhaps showers and thunderstorms across the Los Angeles Basin.

    Where Hurricane Marie is now

    Marie is currently well off Mexico’s Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast shows the storm’s location, status, and five-day forecast cone.

    (MORE: What the forecast cone means)

    Where Hurricane Marie could go

    Forecast models have offered two different scenarios for Marie’s path in recent days.

    One group of models shows Marie continuing west-northwest this weekend and into next week, keeping the storm far from land. Another group turns Marie toward the north, bringing what remains of the storm close to—or possibly over—parts of Southern California early next week.

    While it is too soon to rule out either scenario, the more likely outcome is that Marie remains far from land.

    Even if Marie moves farther north, dry and stable air combined with the cooler, although still much warmer than usual, waters of the California ocean current would likely weaken the storm significantly. A similar process occurred in August 2023 with what was once Hurricane Hilary.

    Because of these conditions, tropical cyclones are rare near Southern California. The only known Southern California hurricane struck San Diego before the Civil War.

    Possible impacts in California

    California could still experience weather effects from Marie and the broader atmospheric pattern, even if the storm stays hundreds of miles offshore.

    High surf, rip currents and coastal flooding

    Swells generated by Marie are expected to move toward the Southern California coast this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Large breaking waves and dangerous rip currents could result even if Marie remains far offshore.

    The National Weather Service also warned of possible coastal flooding, particularly along south-facing shores.

    Showers and thunderstorms

    Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase across much of the West, including parts of California, from later this week through early next week.

    A southward plunge of the jet stream into the West Coast will draw additional tropical moisture into the region, including some moisture associated with Marie. Storms could produce locally heavy, flooding rainfall, especially in hilly, mountainous, urban, and desert areas.

    What residents should do

    People in California and the Desert Southwest should continue monitoring the forecast for Marie in case the storm’s projected path changes.

    Residents and visitors should also:

    • Stay out of the ocean unless you are an experienced surfer or strong swimmer. If you enter the water, stay near lifeguards.
    • Know whether you live near areas recently burned by wildfires.
    • Keep a go-bag ready in case flash flooding or debris flows lead to evacuations.
    • Never drive through flooded roads or around barricades. Turn around and find an alternate route.
    • Consider postponing hikes and outdoor activities in canyons or mountainous areas when thunderstorms are forecast.

    Thunderstorms several miles away can trigger dangerous, fast-moving flash floods that sweep through canyons with little warning.

    Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com who has covered national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.