The 2024 Northeast Pacific hurricane season, which had been quiet until recently, got a new boost over the weekend. On Aug. 25, Hurricane Hone—which developed from a disturbance southeast of Hawaii—reached Category 1 intensity before passing south of the Big Island, according to the . NASA Earth Observatory.
Although Hoan did not directly affect the island chain, it brought destructive winds, drenching rainfall and deadly surf. Parts of Hawaii received more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain within 24 hours and suffered localized flash flooding. About 24,000 utility customers initially lost power, although that number dropped to 2,400 by the afternoon of August 26, according to the report. poweroutage.us.
Meanwhile, Hoan continued moving west, as did Hurricane Gilma, which reached Category 3 but was possibly weakening due to unfavorable weather. In the eastern Pacific, the other threat was Tropical Storm Hector, which is expected to weaken.
This new species of planetary storm has caught the attention of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), which is believed to have combined three of the most powerful storms in Earth’s memory into a stunning video, showing them wreaking havoc over the ocean.
Three storms in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean participate in the Conga Line.
Newly formed Tropical Storm Hector and Hurricane Gilma are moving over open waters, while Tropical Storm Hoan is moving west of Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/orgKEFWkqV
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) August 26, 2024
The video shows these planetary storms merging over a vast ocean.
Only nine named storms have formed in the northeast Pacific this season, most of which were short-lived despite late-season development. Still, Hone and Gilma collectively did much to significantly improve the basin’s overall activity this season. So far this season, accumulated cyclone energy, or ACE, is running below the historical average, researchers say. NASA Earth Observatory.
While direct strikes on Hawaii are fairly rare, tropical storms do occasionally make landfall in the state. Strong wind shear, a steering high-pressure system and cool ocean temperatures usually break up or weaken the storm before it can make direct landfall on the islands.
