If you live in Hawaii chances are you’re tracking Tropical Storm Darby closely. The weakening storm system (Tropical Storm in the hurricane category, but would be a Cat 1 cyclone in our part of the world) is expected to brush the remote US State with high surf and showers this weekend, but that’s about it.  

The eastern Pacific is a lonely place for a hurricane or tropical storm. They tend to track north west away from Mexico and USA (not always, but if they form far enough out at sea they often tend to stay there).

Right now there are 4 tropical concerns lining up – but with mostly open waters it’s pretty much only ships and planes that have to watch out for it – along with a few beachgoers and surfers in Hawaii.

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Ocean where most famous hurricanes are born (think Andrew, Rita, Katrina, Ivan for example) things are very, very, quiet so far this season. Typically August and September see a sudden ramp up in tropical storms/hurricanes around North America.

– Wunderground

– WeatherWatch.co.nz