8 Cyclones Were Swirling at Same Time in Pacific

That hasn't happened in more than 40 years
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2017 11:00 AM CDT
First Time in 4 Decades: Pacific Had 8 Cyclones
File photo from the US Naval Research Laboratory of a tropical cyclone.   (AP Photo/US Navy)

The northern Pacific Ocean experienced some weather weirdness over the weekend: It had no fewer than eight tropical cyclones swirling simultaneously on Saturday, the first time that's happened since 1974, reports the Weather Channel. For the record, that encompasses tropical storms Fernanda, Greg, Noru, Kulap, and Roke, plus tropical depressions Nine-E, Ten-E, and Eight-W. The best the Atlantic has managed is five simultaneous cyclones, back in 1971.

For wonkier weather fans, the site explains that the weekend phenomenon was related to a stronger-than-usual energy wave around the equator known as the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Also of note: Depression Nine-E eventually became the named storm Hilary, which is now a hurricane, though not one expected to hit land, reports USA Today. Hilary formed about the same time as tropical storm Don, which fizzled in the Caribbean. And, yes, the names Hilary and Don were just a coincidence this year. (More Pacific Ocean stories.)

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