The Eastern Pacific is a tropical storm factory, and the Atlantic Basin shows signs of life
The Eastern Pacific is a tropical storm factory, and the Atlantic Basin shows signs of life
Global · Published Jul 16, 2026
Tropical Storm Elida churning over the Eastern Pacific.
Elida is forecast to become the first hurricane of the Eastern Pacific, staying away from land.

So far, the Eastern Pacific has developed five named tropical systems, all of which have been tropical storms. Although the fifth named storm of the season on average forms by July 23, which means we are ahead of schedule by about nine days, July 15 is on average the date when the second hurricane forms. There is still plenty of time to catch up and likely surpass that average, as the Eastern Pacific is forecast to be very active due to what could be the strongest El Niño ever. NOAA has forecast up to 22 named systems this season in the Eastern Pacific. If this materializes, the 2026 season could tie 1985 and 2015 for second place for the most named systems on record for this region, behind only the 27 named systems recorded in 1992.

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