The central and eastern Pacific hurricane region is setting records for the number and duration of major storms, with outlets citing scientists linking the activity to a strong El Niño. Reporting says that storms in this area—east of the international date line—are lasting longer and reaching higher intensity than usual.
Meteorologists use measures such as accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) to track hurricane-season activity by combining wind strength and longevity. Multiple sources describe the 2026 season as the busiest on record in the eastern and central tropical Pacific, attributing the boost not only to El Niño but also to other environmental factors that help storms form and persist. One report quotes a Colorado State University researcher saying that storms that develop during this season tend to last a long time and intensify more than in typical years.
While the outlets focus on different elements—such as specific storm formation dates or the ACE metric—they converge on the same core point: a powerful El Niño is turbocharging storm frequency and endurance in the Pacific basin.
