NASA captures rare sight of three cyclones over the Pacific at once

Three large white spirals appeared together over the blue Pacific in an image captured by NASA's DSCOVR satellite from nearly 1.6 million kilometers away. The photograph, taken by the satellite's EPIC instrument on September 1, showed cyclones Lowell, Karina and Marie spread across thousands of kilometers west of the Americas.

Lowell was the westernmost system and later became the strongest of the three. On September 2, it rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of about 260 kilometers per hour. Its center was about 715 kilometers south of Hilo, Hawaii. Although it did not make a direct landfall in the islands, it generated large waves and rough seas in the area.

Karina, east of Lowell, also strengthened on September 2, reaching Category 4 with winds of about 220 kilometers per hour. NASA said it was unusual for a Category 5 and a Category 4 storm to exist at the same time in the northeastern Pacific. Marie, southwest of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, was still a tropical storm when the image was taken and continued strengthening over warm waters.

The image also showed another weather system on the other side of the United States. Tropical Storm Edouard had moved into Louisiana and Texas, bringing heavy rain and toppling trees and power lines in some areas.

By September 3, the northeastern Pacific had recorded 15 named storms, including six hurricanes. NASA, citing Colorado State University meteorologists, said the region's accumulated cyclone energy index had reached 130, about 50% above the usual level for that point in the year. The Atlantic, by contrast, had recorded five named storms and no hurricanes, with an ACE index of 4.4, about 9% of normal. NASA said El Niño was one factor behind the contrast, as warmer-than-usual waters in the eastern and central Pacific can support tropical cyclone formation and strengthening.