NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera captured an image on September 1, 2026, showing three tropical cyclones churning in the Pacific Ocean while the Atlantic remained unusually calm. This activity aligns with spring 2026 seasonal outlooks that predicted below-normal activity in the Atlantic and above-normal activity in the northeastern and central Pacific due to an El Niño pattern.
As of September 3, the Northeast Pacific had already produced 15 named storms and six hurricanes, exceeding the typical number for that time of year. The storms observed were Lowell, Karina, and Marie. Lowell reached category 5 strength on September 2, and Karina simultaneously achieved category 4 strength – a rare occurrence. Marie was strengthening as it moved northwest.
In contrast, the Atlantic basin, hampered by unfavorable wind shear, had only seen five named storms and no hurricanes. Tropical Storm Edouard briefly made landfall over Louisiana and Texas, bringing 15 to 24 inches (38 to 61 centimeters) of rain and downing trees and power lines. Colorado State University meteorologists reported the Atlantic basin’s total accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index was 4.4, approximately 9 percent of normal for that date.
The Northeast Pacific’s ACE index, however, was 130, about 50 percent above normal. The ACE index measures both the intensity and duration of storms, providing a comparative metric for seasons. El Niño enhances hurricane activity in the eastern and central Pacific by creating unusually warm water temperatures, while suppressing activity in the Atlantic by altering large-scale circulation patterns.
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