Hurricane Kristy peaks, weakens: Rare El Niño-free event
The hurricane Kristy, rolling across the western Pacific, intensified to the highest, fifth category on Thursday. It will probably not make landfall, as its strength is weakening. This is the first storm of such intensity in this region of the world in over a decade that developed without the involvement of El Niño.
The hurricane, which reached the highest fifth category on Thursday, is expected to weaken on Friday. Experts predict that it will continue its path across the Pacific Ocean and not approach land.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) report from Miami, Kristy reached a maximum wind speed of 162 mph. The hurricane was located 973 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, heading west.
Hurricane Kristy reached its peak intensity. Now it will start to weaken, but there will be tides
AP agency Hurricane Kristy is expected to generate waves that will affect the western part of the peninsula's coasts until the end of the weekend, potentially leading to dangerous tidal conditions.
Meteorologists predict that it will significantly weaken over the coming days. Kristy no longer poses a concern.
However, the phenomenon is still noteworthy. It remains an interesting atmospheric occurrence as the first storm of such strength in this region of the world in over ten years that developed without the involvement of El Niño.
The El Niño effect results from weather events characterized by sustained above-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. These occur when the easterly trade winds weaken, leading to a halt in upwelling, or the phenomenon of oceanic deep waters rising.
The forecasts for the coming week for this area are favorable, with no indication of potential new tropical cyclones in the Atlantic.
