Pacific Islands

Two Pacific hurricanes are prompting warnings on opposite sides of the ocean. Hurricane Nolo remains a threat to Hawaii, with officials watching its track toward the islands, while Mexico's Baja California peninsula is bracing for a major landfall from Hurricane Polo. Residents in both regions are being urged to monitor forecasts and prepare for strong winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding.

The New York Times has published tracking maps following Typhoon Surigae, one of the strongest storms recorded early in the 2021 Pacific typhoon season. The maps chart the typhoon's position and projected movement across the western Pacific. Surigae intensified rapidly over open waters, drawing attention from meteorologists and residents monitoring its potential impact on islands in the region.

The president of Palau addressed the United Nations General Assembly, pressing the international body on climate change and rising global tensions. As leader of a small Pacific island nation highly vulnerable to rising seas, the president used the speech to call for stronger global commitments on emissions and to highlight how geopolitical instability compounds the threats facing small island states.

Small island states in the South Pacific are fighting for their survival against rising seas and intensifying storms, and commentators argue their growing debt burdens should not be used as leverage against them. Writing on the challenges facing these nations, the piece calls for debt relief rather than exploitation as the islands struggle to finance climate adaptation while servicing loans.

Hawaii is facing its third near miss from a tropical storm this season, according to an Atlantic report on an unusually crowded Pacific hurricane season. Forecasters note the central Pacific has seen an exceptional number of storms tracking close to the islands, raising questions about whether climate patterns are making such close calls more frequent. Residents and officials are watching each new system warily as the season continues.

Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands, delivered a statement during the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. As leader of a low-lying Pacific nation, her address comes at a session where climate change and sea-level rise remain central concerns for small island states. The remarks were circulated by international news outlets covering the annual gathering of world leaders in New York.

Scientists have captured a subduction zone off Vancouver Island in the process of tearing itself apart, suggesting these massive tectonic systems may die piece by piece rather than all at once. The finding offers new insight into how subduction zones end over geological time, with implications for understanding seismic hazards in the Pacific Northwest, where the Cascadia zone poses earthquake and tsunami risks.

Hurricane Nolo has strengthened in the Pacific after passing near Hawaii, bringing heavy rain to the islands. Forecasters are tracking its path as the storm moves away from the state. Residents and officials are monitoring conditions for flooding and other storm impacts.

Hawaii has experienced its third near-miss from a Pacific hurricane this season, according to reporting in The Atlantic. The storms have tracked close enough to the islands to raise alarms, prompting evacuations and emergency preparations even without direct landfalls. Commenters are linking the pattern to warmer ocean temperatures and are debating whether climate change is increasing hurricane threats to the islands.

Tropical Storm Nolo is approaching Hawaii, marking the islands' third major storm in two months. In the San Francisco Bay Area, residents with family ties to Hawaii are reaching out to check on relatives as the storm nears landfall. Officials and communities are monitoring conditions amid an unusually active Pacific storm season.

Researchers from Purdue University are travelling to a remote island group in the Pacific Ocean to investigate possible remnants of Amelia Earhart's aircraft. The aviator vanished during her 1937 attempt to fly around the world, and her disappearance remains one of aviation's great mysteries. The expedition has drawn attention as it could finally shed light on what happened to her plane.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have issued a statement reinforcing their strategic partnership with the United Nations. The release, from the Forum Secretariat, signals the bloc's intent to deepen cooperation with the UN on regional priorities. Details of specific initiatives or commitments announced alongside the statement were not included.

Hurricane Nolo has regained strength over the Pacific, again reaching Category 2 status as it moves away from Hawaii's Big Island. The storm had previously weakened before intensifying once more. While it poses less immediate threat to the Big Island as it tracks away, residents across the Hawaiian chain, including Kauai, are continuing to monitor its path closely.

Tropical Storm Nolo has accelerated on a westward track, prompting officials to cancel the Tropical Storm Watch for Maui. The downgrade means the island no longer faces an imminent threat of tropical-storm conditions as the storm moves away. Residents are advised to monitor official updates as Nolo continues across the central Pacific and forecasters track its changing path and intensity.