As of early September 2026, hurricane activity has diverged sharply between the Pacific and Atlantic basins, aligning with seasonal forecasts influenced by El Niño. While the Atlantic has experienced limited storm development due to unfavorable wind shear, the Northeast Pacific has seen a surge in activity, recording 15 named storms and six hurricanes by September 3.
The impact of El Niño, which warms Pacific waters and alters global circulation patterns, was captured in a satellite image on September 1. NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the DSCOVR satellite recorded three simultaneous tropical cyclones in the Pacific: Lowell, Karina, and Marie. Lowell reached Category 5 intensity on September 2, while Karina simultaneously attained Category 4 status—a rare occurrence of two major hurricanes in the region at the same time. Marie, located southwest of Baja California, was a strengthening tropical storm at the time of the imaging.
In contrast, the Atlantic basin has remained relatively inactive. Tropical Storm Edouard, which made landfall over Louisiana and Texas, was the most notable event, causing significant rainfall ranging from 15 to 24 inches and resulting in downed trees and power lines. According to data from Colorado State University, the Atlantic's accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index is currently at 9 percent of the seasonal norm, whereas the Northeast Pacific's ACE is 50 percent above average.
NASA continues to monitor these weather patterns using various Earth-observing platforms, providing data to assist with emergency preparedness and damage assessment. Current storm tracking and related data products are available through the NASA Worldview browser.
Source: NASA
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