By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-03 18:23:21 | Updated at 2026-09-03 18:58:58
46 minutes ago
Hurricane season in the central and eastern Pacific continues to intensify, with three separate cyclones reaching development.
Hurricanes Karina, Lowell, and Marie were found churning over the tropical waters on Sept. 3, spread across latitudes from Mexico to Hawaii, according to the National Hurricane Center.
In addition, another weather system has a 40 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm in the next seven days.
Marie is the newest hurricane to the neighborhood. Reaching hurricane status by 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 2, it continued to strengthen into a strong Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 90 mph.
Hurricane-force winds (74 mph and greater) were recorded 40 miles from its center, and tropical storm-force winds (39 mph–73 mph) were found up to 230 miles away.
It was last spotted about 410 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, moving further out to sea at 10 mph in a north-northwest direction.
Hurricane Karina was found west of Marie. Spotted less than 1,200 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, around 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 3, Karina had reached major hurricane status, with Category 3 sustained winds up to 115 mph.
Hurricane-force winds extend 35 miles from its center, and tropical storm-force winds were found up to 125 miles out.
Moving westward at 10 mph, the National Hurricane Center expects Karina to turn north, miss the Hawaiian Islands, and gradually weaken over the next several days.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility Hawaii could face the third and largest hurricane currently in the Pacific.
Lowell briefly formed into a Category 5 hurricane on Sept. 2, following Hurricane Genevieve, which, in late July, became the first Pacific storm to reach that maximum status in two years.
By 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 3, Lowell remained a strong Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 140 mph.
At that time, it was spotted 450 miles south-southwest of Hilo, but forecast models expect it to make a sharp turn north and possibly hit the islands in the coming days.
“Lowell could be at or near major hurricane strength when it moves near the westernmost main Hawaiian Islands late Monday and Monday night,” the National Hurricane Center warned.
“While it is still too soon to determine the exact track of the hurricane, Lowell could bring storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts to portions of Hawaii early next week.
“Interests in Hawaii should continue to closely monitor the progress of Lowell through the upcoming Labor Day weekend, listen to the advice of local officials, and ensure they have their hurricane plan and supply kit in place.”
Forecast map of Hurricane Lowell’s expected turn north and impact of the Hawaiian Islands as of Sept. 3, 2026. (National Hurricane Center).
Hurricane Lowell will be the latest hurricane to threaten Hawaii this season.
The first was Hurricane Fausto, which fell apart on its western journey and remained well off the coast.
Then, Hurricane Lala delivered destructive amounts of rain and wind to the Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and other islands in mid-August as it scraped across the archipelago, leaving its eye offshore and degrading to a tropical storm in the process.
Tropical Storm Moke came less than two weeks later. It remained south of Hawaii and died out before it could reach the Big Island, but its remnants were still able to deliver heavy rains.
