How El Niño Is Reshaping Hurricane Activity Around the World

El Niño is a natural warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that can disrupt weather patterns around the world. Its changing wind patterns can suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic while fueling storms in the Pacific.

Why El Niño Can Weaken Atlantic Hurricanes

During El Niño events, winds typically increase over the Atlantic Ocean. This creates greater wind shear—a rapid change in wind speed or direction with altitude.

Strong wind shear can split thunderstorms apart, preventing them from developing into tropical storms or hurricanes.

Why El Niño Can Strengthen Pacific Storms

El Niño typically increases tropical activity in the Pacific Ocean because sea surface temperatures become much warmer and wind patterns become more favorable for storm development.

Warmer ocean temperatures provide storms with more energy, helping them grow into tropical storms and hurricanes.

Pacific Ocean Temperature Records Broken

Temperature records have already been broken in key regions of the east-central Pacific this year. Daily sea surface temperatures are now exceeding the previous record set during a very strong El Niño event in 2015.

The basin has experienced 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes. Seven of those hurricanes were major storms.

Measured by accumulated cyclonic energy—the amount of energy produced by these storms—the season is about 2.5 times more active than normal at this point.

When Could El Niño Peak?

The El Niño phenomenon is expected to continue strengthening, with some predictions suggesting it could reach its peak in November or December.