Rare trio of Pacific hurricanes fuelled by historic El Niño

WASHINGTON, DC, United States — A rare trio of hurricanes were churning through the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, which scientists attributed to waters warmed by a historically strong El Niño phenomenon.

Tropical Storm Marie strengthened into a hurricane late Wednesday off the coast of Baja California, lining up behind hurricanes Karina and Lowell — both rated as major Category 4 — which were making their way westward across the Pacific.

Three tropical cyclones are “definitely rare to see”, Julia Cole, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, told AFP.