Hurricane Fausto churns in the eastern Pacific: Is Hawaii at risk?
"Hawaii will need to monitor the progress of Fausto, as it is forecast to move near or just north of the islands around the middle of this week," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
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After Bertha brought tropical downpours and gusty winds to the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mexico, an even stronger storm is churning in the eastern Pacific, with Hurricane Fausto tracking in the general direction of Hawaii.
This image of Hurricane Fausto was captured early Monday, July 27, 2026 and shows Fausto approaching Hawaii. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
Fausto is the first hurricane of the season in either the Atlantic or eastern Pacific basins.
As of 11 p.m. Sunday, local time, Fausto was a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm will remain a hurricane this weekend before losing wind intensity and dipping to tropical storm strength in the days ahead.
Fausto is expected to maintain tropical storm intensity into the middle of this week as it continues to move west-northwestward over the open Pacific.
"In the long term, Hawaii will need to monitor the progress of Fausto, as it is forecast to move just north of the islands around the middle of this week," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
DaSilva noted that increased surf and dangerous rip currents are the most likely impacts, regardless of how close the storm passes to the islands. The east- and north-facing beaches will be most susceptible to coastal hazards.
Due to rain and strong rip currents, Fausto is a less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes in Hawaii.
"There can also be an uptick in locally drenching showers, depending on the exact track of the storm," DaSilva said.
Elsewhere in the basin, Genevieve recently formed and quickly intensified into the second hurricane and first major hurricane for either the Atlantic or the eastern Pacific so far this year. Genevieve was well to the west of Mexico and with 160-mph maximum sustained winds became the first Category 5 hurricane of the 2026 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season.
This image, captured early Monday morning on July 27, 2026, shows Category 5 Hurricane Genevieve with 160-mph maximum sustained winds. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
The eastern and central Pacific basins are expected to produce above the historical average number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes in 2026 due to El Niño. One to two direct impacts are expected for Hawaii.
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