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Three Category 4 hurricanes cross the Pacific Ocean simultaneously

By Andrew V. Pestano
The image shows the storms during daylight hours. This natural-color image is also a mosaic, acquired with VIIRS between about 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Aug. 30 (21:00 and 00:00 Universal Time on August 30-31). Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
1 of 2 | The image shows the storms during daylight hours. This natural-color image is also a mosaic, acquired with VIIRS between about 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Aug. 30 (21:00 and 00:00 Universal Time on August 30-31). Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- For the first time in recorded history, the Pacific Ocean was host to three Category 4 hurricanes simultaneously: hurricanes Kilo, Ignacio and Jimena.

The rare meteorological event occurred between Saturday and Sunday as the hurricanes moved north-northwest. Hurricane Kilo had maximum sustained winds of 135 miles per hour, Ignacio had winds of 140 miles per hour and Jimena of 130 miles per hour.

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The El NiƱo event warming ocean water and reducing wind shear is attributed in part to creating more Pacific tropical activity, such as the hurricanes.

This also marks the first time that three major hurricanes -- Category 3 or stronger -- were in the central and eastern Pacific basins simultaneously.

"Hurricanes traversing the Pacific Ocean are often solitary storms," NASA Earth Observatory said in a statement. "Occasionally they show up in pairs. But according to meteorologists, August 2015 marked the first time in recorded history that three Category 4 storms simultaneously paraded over the central and eastern Pacific."

Hurricane Ignacio on Monday weakened to a Category 2 storm and veered away from the Hawaiian islands. Neither Kilo nor Jimena were expected to directly hit the islands.

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"This hurricane season seems to be busier than normal," Krislyn Yano, communications manager for the Hawaii chapter of the Red Cross told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "We don't want residents to get fatigued by the close calls then think we're invincible" when the storms pass. "We are always trying to be prepared, and we're only half way through the season. Everyone should always be ready."

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