Hurricane Fausto, which has peaked in intensity and is currently a Category 2 system, is continuing along its path through the Pacific towards the Hawaiian islands. Trailing Fausto is Tropical Storm Genevieve which is forecast to become the first major hurricane of the 2026 East Pacific season.
Hurricane Fausto is continuing its journey across the East Pacific towards the Hawaiian Islands after it peaked in intensity as a Category 2 storm.
As it heads toward Hawaii, Fausto will slowly weaken as it will be met with a hostile environment that makes tropical development much less likely.
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Hurricane Fausto forecast cone
(FOX Weather)
While Hawaii is technically in the forecast cone, the actual outlook is a bit more complicated.
The FOX Forecast Center said cooler waters and intensely dry air will slowly weaken the storm as it inches closer to Hawaii.
The latest forecast has Fausto downgrading to a Category 1 hurricane sometime on Saturday and then to a tropical storm come Monday.
This is very common when a storm weakens upon its approach to Hawaii. This is due to cooler waters east of the islands and an increase in wind shear.
Fausto, or its remnants, will track just north of the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday into Wednesday. The strongest winds will be kept away from the islands as they remain to the northern side of the storm.
“Based on a wide range of computer models, the chance that Fausto takes a track farther south and remains a stronger storm is very low,” according to the FOX Forecast Center.
If the storm does hold together, impacts to Hawaii will range from heavy rain to high surf on the east and northeast-facing beaches on the islands.
The FOX Forecast Center said Hawaii will begin to see impacts Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Forecasts could change as the storm gets closer.
HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 24: A large home on the coast is hit by waves from Hurricane Lane on August 24, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
(Kat Wade / Getty Images)
Tropical Storm Genevieve
Tropical Storm Genevieve was named on Friday, and forecasters say its strengthening is far from over.
In fact, it’s forecast to become the first major hurricane of the 2026 eastern Pacific hurricane season in the coming days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
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Tropical Storm Genevieve
(FOX Weather)
The storm is moving into a region highly conducive to development, due to low wind shear and warm waters.
Not only is the surface water warm, but that warmth extends well below the surface, providing the storm with plenty of fuel. The combination of these three factors will allow the storm to quickly get its act together.
Forecasts indicate that Genevieve will undergo one or more periods of rapid intensification this weekend.
Come Monday, the storm is forecast to be a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the first of this strength in the Pacific since Hurricane Kiko in September 2025.
Fortunately, current forecasts indicate Tropical Storm Genevieve is expected to remain over the open eastern Pacific, posing no threat to land, including Hawaii.
Tropical Storm Genevieve
(FOX Weather)
Other activity
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring another system far to the southwest of Hawaii.
The system has a high chance of development over the next week.
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East Pacific overview
(FOX Weather)
A tropical depression is likely to form as the system moves west-northwest into the Western Pacific, the NHC said.
We’re currently behind schedule in tropical activity in the East Pacific, with the average second hurricane forming by July 15, and the third forming by July 31.
