Pacific region

A new report says global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens in the Pacific. El Niño, which warms ocean surface waters and alters weather worldwide, is adding to the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn the combination could push average temperatures to new extremes in the coming months, with implications for heatwaves, droughts and storms across many regions.

A New York Times opinion piece warns that the current strong El Niño, a warming of the tropical Pacific that shifts global weather patterns, is set to drive severe conditions including heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms across many regions. The author urges governments and the public to prepare now for the disruption, arguing that early planning could limit the damage as the phenomenon reaches full strength in the coming months.

Two Pacific storms are threatening land simultaneously. Hurricane Nolo is taking aim at Hawaii, while Hurricane Polo, a powerful Category 4, is churning toward Mexico's Pacific coast. Officials in both regions are monitoring the storms' tracks and urging residents to prepare for possible heavy rain, high surf and strong winds as forecasts firm up.

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.

Storm activity across the Pacific is being described as unusually chaotic, with multiple hurricanes active at once and forecasters struggling to keep track of their paths. The situation is drawing attention to how busy the season has become and what it means for coastal communities in the storm's potential paths. Residents and authorities in affected regions are monitoring advisories closely.

Hurricane Polo, a major storm, is expected to hit Mexico's Baja California peninsula, with residents and authorities preparing for strong winds, heavy rain and coastal damage. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Nolo continues to pose a threat to Hawaii. Both storms are being closely tracked as twin hurricane risks unfold on opposite sides of the Pacific basin.

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.

Tropical Storm Rachel has formed off Mexico's southwest coast, according to forecasts. The storm's development is being tracked closely, with residents and authorities in the region monitoring its projected path and potential impact on coastal areas.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.

Forecasters put the odds of El Niño persisting for the next six months at nearly certain, with the probability edging from 100% down to 99%. The climate pattern, marked by warmer Pacific waters, typically brings altered weather worldwide, including droughts in some regions and heavy rainfall in others. Coverage is focused on what the extended outlook could mean for temperatures, storms and agriculture in the months ahead.

Pacific leaders are calling on Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights access to West Papua, where allegations of human rights abuses against the indigenous Papuan population have persisted for decades. The appeal, reported by Human Rights Monitor, reflects growing regional pressure on Jakarta to permit independent monitoring of the conflict-affected territory.

A report asks why investors continue to put money into Asia-Pacific real estate even as borrowing costs remain elevated across the region. The question points to a broader debate about where yields and long-term growth prospects are strong enough to offset expensive financing. Attention is on commercial and residential markets from Australia to Japan and Singapore, with analysts weighing whether the region offers better value than Western markets.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami is monitoring Tropical Storm Fay in the Atlantic while Hurricane Polo moves on a path toward Mexico's Pacific coast. Forecasters are watching both systems closely for potential impacts on coastal areas, with residents in affected regions advised to stay informed as tracks and intensity forecasts are updated.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean on September 26, 2026, prompting a natural disaster alert. The available evidence comes from a US embassy advisory posted for Fiji, warning people in the region about the event. The posts collected do not include eyewitness reactions, damage reports, or details on casualties, and no tsunami warning information is given in the evidence, so the full public response is not yet clear.

Tropical Storm Polo is moving up the Pacific off Mexico's coast, and forecasters in Southern California are monitoring its trajectory. While direct landfall is unlikely, the storm's remnants could pull moisture toward the region, raising the possibility of rain, surf, and increased thunderstorm risk. Residents are being urged to follow updated forecasts as the system evolves.

Climate change litigation and emerging legal precedents are reportedly beginning to unravel rights tied to Pacific cultures, according to the National Indigenous Times. The report highlights tension between climate-driven legal frameworks and Indigenous cultural claims in the Pacific region, where communities face rising seas and displacement while seeking recognition of their traditional rights.

A new study reported by ScienceDaily suggests the ground beneath the Pacific Northwest is slowly splitting as tectonic forces pull the region apart. The findings point to ongoing deformation in the Cascadia area, drawing attention from geologists and readers concerned about earthquake and volcanic risk in the western United States.

Forecasters are tracking continued tropical activity in the Eastern Pacific while monitoring a new area of interest in the Atlantic. The update highlights that both basins remain watchful as the season progresses, with no specific storm impacts named yet. Residents in coastal regions are advised to keep an eye on upcoming forecasts as systems develop.

A strong, or 'super', El Niño event is being linked to significant regional weather impacts across the Midwestern United States. The phenomenon, driven by unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters, typically alters precipitation and temperature patterns, affecting the Midwest's agriculture, flooding risks and winter conditions. Attention is focused on how this cycle may play out differently for the region.

A 25 September 2026 defence news roundup covers three main storylines: tightening sanctions on Iran, security concerns in the Baltic region, and shifting power dynamics in the Pacific. The briefing ties together American sanctions pressure on Tehran with NATO's eastern flank worries and strategic competition in Asia, framing them as the day's key international security developments.

Biologists in Orange County, California, have carried out an unprecedented relocation of sea turtle eggs, moving them to safer ground to protect the nest from waves driven by an approaching hurricane. Relocating sea turtle nests is rare in the region, and the operation reflects growing efforts by wildlife experts to shield vulnerable marine species as storms intensify along the Pacific coast.

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.

A Honolulu-based engineering firm has been awarded a $49 million contract to carry out fire protection work across sites in the Pacific region. The deal, reported by The Business Journals, covers fire protection services over a multi-year scope. The award highlights ongoing federal and infrastructure investment in Hawaii and Pacific facilities, and is drawing attention from readers following defense and infrastructure contracting in the region.

Pacific Retail Capital Partners and Conversant Capital have formed a joint venture to acquire a mall in Ventura, California. The deal signals continued investor interest in repositioning regional shopping centres, with Pacific Retail known for taking over struggling malls and redeveloping them. Details on the purchase price and the partners' plans for the property were not disclosed in the initial reports.