A stretch of intense tropical activity is moving across the Pacific Ocean, highlighted by Hurricane Genevieve reaching Category 5 status off the Mexican coast and Tropical Storm Fausto tracking north of Hawaii.
The heightened activity aligns with forecasts driven by El Niño conditions, which produce warmer sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Pacific that favor storm formation and intensification.
Genevieve originated as a tropical depression on July 24 off Mexico’s coast before upgrading to a tropical storm hours later. The system achieved hurricane status on July 25 and rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds by July 26. Overnight into July 27, maximum sustained winds reached 160 mph, classifying it as a Category 5 hurricane.
“While eastern Pacific Major Hurricane Genevieve poses no direct threat to land, it has become the most powerful hurricane in the waters surrounding North and Central America this year and the first Category 5 hurricane since Kristy in 2024,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
By early July 28, Genevieve’s intensity eased slightly to a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds as it underwent eyewall replacement cycles. Meteorologists expect the storm to track northwest, steadily weakening into a tropical storm by the weekend. Large swells generated by Genevieve are projected to reach the western coastlines of Mexico and California, creating hazardous marine conditions.
To the west, Tropical Storm Fausto is tracking northwest and is expected to pass north of Hawaii.
“Fausto, which became a hurricane last week while just off the coast of Mexico, has moved along a general west to west-northwest path for days,” DaSilva said. “Just enough of a northward drift has occurred to take the slowly unwinding tropical cyclone and most of its impacts north of the Hawaiian Islands this week.”
Moisture extending from Fausto may bring scattered showers to parts of Hawaii, though forecasters note any localized flash flooding would be isolated. Rough surf and rip currents are expected along north- and northeast-facing shores.
“That’s about the only way parts of Hawaii may get any rain from Fausto,” DaSilva added. “But any problems from flash flooding would be extremely isolated.”
Farther southwest, north of the Marshall Islands, Typhoon Dolphin has formed with sustained winds of 85 mph. Forecasters expect Dolphin to intensify rapidly into a super typhoon with winds reaching 170 mph, posing additional hazards to trans-Pacific shipping routes alongside Genevieve.
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