Ocean Drive

Hurricane Polo, a storm in the eastern Pacific, is being described as one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters attributing its unusual intensity to El Niño conditions. Warm ocean waters linked to the climate pattern are driving rapid intensification, drawing attention from weather watchers and news outlets tracking the storm's path and potential coastal impacts.

The Atlantic has yet to produce a hurricane this season, and climate outlet Grist attributes the calm to El Niño. The phenomenon, which is driving record ocean temperatures worldwide, creates wind shear over the Atlantic that suppresses tropical storm development. The piece notes the irony that the same pattern raising global temperatures is also canceling Atlantic tropical activity, at least for now.

Forecasters say El Niño is driving a stark divide in tropical activity this hurricane season. The pattern has strengthened winds over the Atlantic, tearing storms apart and keeping that basin unusually calm, while warm Pacific waters are generating repeated hurricanes. Meteorologists expect the imbalance to persist as long as El Niño conditions hold through the season.

Fire crews in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, are responding to an active structure fire on Ocean Drive, according to local officials. Details on injuries, the extent of the damage, or the cause of the blaze have not yet been released as crews work to bring the fire under control.

Officials in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, have closed Ocean Drive because of an active fire. Emergency crews are responding and residents and visitors are being urged to avoid the area while the situation develops. No details on injuries or damage have been released yet.