Hurricane forecasters warn Pacific storms will impact US. What to know

Pacific Storms Set to Influence West Coast and Hawaii Despite Distance from Land

Cybersecarmor.com – Even though Tropical Storm Fausto and Hurricane Genevieve will remain hundreds of miles from land, their influence will be felt over vast portions of the Pacific Ocean, triggering beach warnings in Hawaii and Southern California.

Fausto Approaches Hawaiian Islands

Fausto will pass close enough to Hawaii that weather service meteorologists are encouraging residents and visitors to pay “close attention” as Fausto passes north of the islands on July 28 and 29. Weather impacts to Hawaii will “evolve the closer Fausto gets,” the weather service said.

On the morning of July 28, Fausto was centered about 265 miles northeast of Hilo, and 400 miles east of Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds of around 60 mph. The storm was moving westward at about 14 mph.

The Hawaiian Islands are expected to feel the influence of both Fausto and Genevieve over surf and beach conditions. Fausto’s influence may have one surprising effect in Hawaii, and actually reduce winds over the islands, the weather service said.

Surf Conditions Building Across Hawaii

A high surf warning is in effect along east-facing shores of the islands through Wednesday, with surf conditions forecast to peak on Tuesday, July 28, then begin to drop off by the afternoon of July 29. However, the surf will trend back up by the weekend, thanks to a rising trade wind swell and a long-period swell generated by Hurricane Genevieve.

Genevieve’s Path and Southern California Impact

After peaking as a Category 5 hurricane, Genevieve has continued to weaken, but its swells will affect nearly 1,000 miles of coast southward from Los Angeles along the Baja California Peninsula.

The Category 3 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph on the morning of July 28, and was centered about 530 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, according to the hurricane center. The hurricane was moving west-northwest at about 8 mph, a trajectory expected to continue as the storm weakens.

Southern California beaches are expected to begin experiencing Genevieve’s influence on July 29. Along the southern California coast, where beach advisories already are in effect because of full moon high tides, a swell from Hurricane Genevieve will arrive starting July 29, the weather service said. Meteorologists are warning of strong rip currents and longshore currents along all beaches, from Malibu south.

Additional Details and Outlook

The exact height of the swell remains uncertain, but the current forecast states the swell may produce surf of around 5 to 9 feet on south-facing beaches north of Oceanside, California, with surf around 3 to 6 feet elsewhere. A high surf advisory is in effect for three days, starting July 29 at 5 p.m.

High tides are also expected, which could cause flooding in low-lying areas with a tendency to flood when both the surf and tides are high.

Genevieve also is generating swells along the southwestern coast of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. Overnight on July 27, the Mexican Navy reported sustained winds of 64 mph on Clarion Island, an island in Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago, about 400 miles off the coast.

For the moment, the National Hurricane Center isn’t showing any other tropical development in the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean through Aug. 2.

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Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has written about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.