Rare 'train' of Pacific cyclones fueled by historic El Nino

A rare train of three powerful Pacific cyclones, fueled by an intense El Nino climate event, is currently traversing the Pacific Ocean. Leading the cyclone train is Hurricane Lowell, followed by Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie. These storms, which are expected to remain far from Hawaii, are a rare occurrence given the rarity of such a cyclone train.

Climate scientists attribute the formation of these storms to the warming of ocean waters associated with El Nino. El Nino, a warming phase of a natural cycle in the tropical Pacific, significantly raises sea surface temperatures, providing a fuel source for these storms. The current El Nino, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a 69 percent chance of being the strongest on record and is already causing extreme weather worldwide, even though its peak is not expected until October-December.

The impacts of this El Nino are far-reaching, affecting Peru's anchovy catch and causing water levels in Sudan's Nile to drop. Climate change is exacerbating the impacts of El Nino, as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to more extreme rains and drought in certain regions.