The Pacific is churning with hurricanes. The Atlantic is quiet. Blame El Niño

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-25T22:15:34.425Z • Permanent link

Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have confirmed that the Pacific Ocean is experiencing an unusually high number of hurricanes, with multiple storms making landfall in the past few weeks. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that at least 15 named storms have formed in the eastern Pacific, with 10 of them strengthening into hurricanes. In contrast, the Atlantic Ocean has remained quiet, with no full-blown hurricanes recorded this year.

The NHC attributed the surge in Pacific hurricanes to an exceptionally strong El Niño event, which is expected to persist through the remainder of the year. El Niño is a complex weather pattern that occurs when the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean warms up more than usual, leading to changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns. According to data from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the El Niño event is expected to bring above-average rainfall to the western United States and below-average rainfall to the eastern United States.

NOAA's climate model, known as the Global Forecast System (GFS), suggests that the El Niño event could have significant impacts on global climate patterns, including increased drought in Australia and Indonesia, and above-average rainfall in South America. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a statement warning of potential flooding and landslides in the Pacific Northwest due to heavy rainfall and strong winds.

The impact of the El Niño event on hurricane activity in the Pacific is significant for companies that operate in the insurance, research, and risk management sectors. For example, Swiss Re, a leading reinsurer, has issued a statement warning of increased hurricane risk in the Pacific, which could lead to higher premiums and payouts for policyholders. Similarly, research institutions such as the University of Colorado Boulder's Institute of the Environment and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) are likely to see increased funding and interest in studying the El Niño event and its impacts on hurricane activity.

The El Niño event also has implications for policy makers, particularly those responsible for disaster relief and recovery efforts. For example, the US government has allocated additional funds to support disaster relief efforts in the western United States, which could be affected by the increased hurricane activity in the Pacific. Furthermore, the El Niño event could also have impacts on global food prices, as changes in precipitation patterns could affect crop yields in countries such as Brazil and Argentina.

The El Niño event is part of a larger pattern of climate variability that has been observed in the Pacific Ocean over the past few decades. Research has shown that climate change is likely to exacerbate El Niño events, leading to more frequent and intense storms in the Pacific. This has significant implications for climate modeling and prediction, as scientists and policymakers seek to better understand and prepare for these events. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a statement warning of increased risk of extreme weather events, including hurricanes and floods, due to climate change.