On Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Norbert formed in the Eastern Pacific, marking the 16th named storm of this hurricane season. This season has already seen three major hurricanes, all attributed to a significant El Niño phenomenon.
The latest update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that Norbert has sustained winds of 45 mph and is moving to the west at a speed of 14 mph.
Tropical Depression Fourteen-E transitioned into Tropical Storm Norbert several hundred miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, as per the NHC.
This system was initially labeled as Invest 96E on Tuesday before rapidly strengthening into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E.
The FOX Forecast Center suggests that Norbert may develop into a hurricane by Saturday.
“Current long-term forecasts indicate that this system might continue to move eastward and could head toward Hawaii, though that’s more than a week away,” stated the FOX Forecast Center. “There’s still ample time for forecasts to shift and change.”
Among the 16 named storms in the Eastern and Central Pacific, three have impacted Hawaii, a region that typically experiences minimal tropical activity.
This week, Hurricane Lowell made a rare direct strike on the western Hawaiian Islands.
The ongoing strengthening of the El Niño and favorable atmospheric conditions are contributing to an unusually active Pacific hurricane season.
Generally, El Niño tends to decrease tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic while promoting more activity in the Pacific. Additionally, this climate pattern influences other global weather phenomena during non-hurricane periods.
“In addition to Norbert, there are two other areas worth monitoring, one of which has a significant chance of development over the next week, located near the current Tropical Storm Norbert,” noted the FOX Forecast Center.
