Hurricane Genevieve made history this morning as the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the East Pacific region in two years. The last Category 5 storm in the area was Hurricane Kristy in 2024.
The storm is currently hovering over the Pacific Ocean, with its center located roughly 530 miles southwest of the Mexican city of Manzanillo.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said the storm is creating “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” around Mexico’s southwestern coast and the Baja California Peninsula.
Another smaller hurricane is also being observed further northwest in the Pacific.
Despite Genevieve’s intensity, there is some good news for U.S. citizens. Here’s a closer look at both storms and what residents can expect.
East Pacific Hurricane Not Expected To Make Landfall
Although Hurricane Genevieve reached maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour, the storm is not expected to make landfall. Experts predict the hurricane will remain far out at sea, mostly moving along the Mexican coast.
Here’s what the latest update from the NHC is saying about Genevieve:
| Location | About 530 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. |
| Maximum Sustained Winds | 160 miles per hour |
| Present Movement | 310 degrees at 13 miles per hour |
| Minimum Central Pressure | 925 millibars |
Presently, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
So far, this Category 5 storm is on trend with the 2025 hurricane season. Last year, experts predicted an above-average hurricane season, and although storms were quite powerful, none of them made landfall in the U.S. in 2025.
Genevieve is expected to slow down starting Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hurricane Fausto, a smaller Category 1 storm in the Pacific, is headed straight for the Hawaiian Islands.
Hurricane Forces Airlines To Update Travel Advisories
While there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect for Hurricane Fausto, the NHC website does say, “Interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of Fausto.”
Some airlines flying to the islands have already taken precautions. Canada’s WestJet, for example, has a travel advisory in place for flights to Kahului, Maui, and Honolulu, Oahu.
The airline is offering flexible change and cancellation policies for those traveling to the above locations between July 28, 2026 and July 29, 2026.
As for how Fausto compares to Genevieve, here’s the NHC’s latest update:
| Location | About 670 miles East of Hilo, Hawaii |
| Maximum Sustained Winds | 80 miles per hour |
| Present Movement | 285 degrees at 14 miles per hour |
| Minimum Central Pressure | 988 millibars |
Hurricane Fausto is predicted to downgrade to a tropical storm in the coming days. However, even with both storms expected to slow down soon, many people took to social media to discuss their thoughts about the intense start to the hurricane season.
Hurricanes Genevieve And Fausto: “A Small Peek At What’s To Come”
On platforms like Reddit and YouTube, commenters are expressing their fears about what these storms mean for the remainder of the season.
“Considering that it’s still July, and that the El Niño is still intensifying, all the activity we’ve seen is just a small peek at what’s to come,” one Reddit commenter said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we get quite a few major hurricanes, but also if there’s more than 26 named storms, hence needing more names like Alpha, Beta, etc.”
Another added, “This is gonna be an ACE generator, that’s for sure. After a pretty slow start, it may overtake the ACE of the 2025 Pacific hurricane season when comparing timelines.”
Meanwhile, on YouTube, commenters took a more playful approach to their discussions, sharing sentiments such as, “Fish storm. Who cares.”
Another said, “California getting hit with a Hurricane as soon as LeBron leaves. How ironic is that?”
For anyone traveling in the area, be sure to monitor the situation closely. Updates on Hurricane Genevieve and Hurricane Fausto can be found on the NHC website. Also, be sure to check with your airline for any updated travel advisories that may impact your plans.
