This week, the Pacific Ocean has been a focal point for intense meteorological activity, featuring two hurricanes in the northeast and a powerful typhoon in the northwest.
Hurricane Gilma, which rapidly intensified into a category 4 storm on Sunday, has been generating severe marine conditions. As it tracked westward, Gilma produced 3.5-meter-high swells and sustained winds of 130 mph.
While it spared land from major damage, it created hazardous conditions for marine traffic. Forecasts suggest that Gilma will pass to the north of the Hawaiian Islands by Friday, by which time it is expected to have weakened into a remnant low-pressure system with minimal impact.
Hurricane Gilma’s powerful waves and winds create hazardous conditions in the Pacific.On the other hand, Hurricane Hone made a direct impact on the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. Passing just 50 nautical miles south of the Big Island, Hone brought sustained winds of 80 mph and generated significant surf with waves reaching up to 4.3 meters.
The storm’s strong winds, gusting to 60 mph, have contributed to dangerous conditions, particularly on the eastern windward side of the island.
Flash flooding and landslides remain significant concerns, with weather stations reporting up to 350 mm of rain in 24 hours in some areas, a figure nearly three times the average monthly rainfall for August. The situation is expected to improve as Hone moves westward.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Shanshan is intensifying as it approaches southern Japan. On Sunday, it recorded sustained winds of 75 mph, with gusts reaching 110 mph.
Projections indicate that Shanshan will strengthen into a very strong typhoon by Tuesday, potentially reaching maximum speeds of 125 mph. The storm poses a considerable threat to infrastructure and could bring over 300 mm of rainfall in some areas, increasing the risk of flash flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous regions.