As the calendar turned to November 2026, the Pacific Ocean continued to be a crucible of intense meteorological activity, notably marked by two distinct yet equally compelling storm phenomena. Super Typhoon In-fa, churning menacingly near the Mariana Islands, captivated meteorologists with its exceptionally large and well-defined eye, a hallmark of rare "annular" tropical cyclones. Simultaneously, thousands of miles to the northeast, the transformed remnants of Typhoon Champi embarked on an unusual trajectory towards Alaska, transitioning into a potent extratropical storm and marking the fourth such event to impact the state in a single, remarkably active year. This dual narrative of powerful storms underscores a pattern of elevated tropical cyclone activity across the Northwest Pacific Basin, a trend scientists are increasingly linking to the ongoing strong El Niño phenomenon.
A Season of Unprecedented Intensity in the Northwest Pacific
The year 2026 has been characterized by an unusually dynamic tropical cyclone season in the Northwest Pacific Basin, with activity surging consistently since April. This heightened period commenced dramatically with Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which achieved Category 5 intensity and inflicted significant damage across Micronesia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. By late October, the basin had already witnessed the formation of twenty-five named storms, maintaining an energetic rhythm that defied typical seasonal tapering. This relentless procession of cyclones has kept meteorological agencies and vulnerable island communities on high alert for months.
The powerful forces at play were vividly captured by Earth-observing satellites. On October 29, 2026, the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) provided a stunning view of Super Typhoon In-fa as it swirled with formidable strength near the Mariana Islands. This same satellite imagery simultaneously depicted the expansive cloud shield of ex-Typhoon Champi’s remnants advancing towards the Alaskan coast, joining what forecasters described as a "parade of storms" traversing the Bering Sea. For the Mariana Islands, In-fa represented the fifth typhoon to directly threaten or affect the archipelago this year, highlighting their persistent vulnerability in this exceptionally active season.
Super Typhoon In-fa: The Enigma of the Annular Storm
Super Typhoon In-fa’s structure presented a particularly intriguing case study for meteorologists. An image captured on October 30 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite, when In-fa was just west of the island chain, revealed a storm of unusual intensity and striking symmetry. Its nearly circular shape and notably large eye are key characteristics that define a subset of tropical cyclones known as annular storms.
Annular storms are distinct from typical tropical cyclones, which often feature prominent, spiraling outer rainbands. Instead, annular storms present a more uniform, often ring-like structure, leading meteorologists to affectionately — or descriptively — refer to them as "doughnuts" or "truck tires." This particular morphology is not merely an aesthetic curiosity; it signifies specific dynamic processes within the storm. Annular storms are considerably rare, accounting for only about 4 percent of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific, according to one comprehensive analysis. Their eyes average approximately 45 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter, significantly larger than the roughly 25-kilometer average for standard tropical cyclones. Critically, these storms are also known for their resilience, typically maintaining their formidable strength for longer durations, even when encountering environmental conditions that might weaken a more conventional tropical cyclone. This sustained intensity poses prolonged threats to any landmasses in their path, demanding extended periods of preparedness and heightened vigilance from affected regions like the Mariana Islands.
Champi’s Metamorphosis: From Tropical Fury to Extratropical Impact
While In-fa retained its identity as a powerful tropical cyclone, Typhoon Champi underwent a profound transformation, illustrating a critical meteorological process known as extratropical transition. Before its metamorphosis, Champi embarked on a long and destructive journey across the West Pacific. At its peak, the typhoon achieved maximum sustained winds nearing 300 kilometers (185 miles) per hour, earning it the distinction of being one of the strongest storms recorded globally in 2026. This powerhouse storm, though narrowly skirting Taiwan and Guam, delivered damaging winds and torrential rains to both territories, as well as parts of coastal China and Japan, leaving a trail of disruption and recovery efforts in its wake.
As Champi’s remnants migrated northward and eastward into the bustling storm track of the Bering Sea, they encountered colder waters and contrasting air masses, triggering the extratropical transition. This process fundamentally alters a storm’s character. Tropical cyclones are "warm-core" systems, drawing their energy from the latent heat released by condensing moisture over warm ocean waters. In contrast, extratropical cyclones are "cold-core" systems, deriving their energy from the temperature gradients between warm and cold air masses, akin to the frontal systems that drive typical mid-latitude winter storms.
Gary Partyka, a meteorologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explained the observable shifts during this transition. "One of the calling cards of extratropical transitions is the expansion of a storm’s wind field," he noted. "It’s not that the winds necessarily grow stronger, but they cover a much larger area." This expansion means that even if peak wind speeds diminish, a much broader region experiences significant wind impacts. Furthermore, unlike the compact, often symmetrical structure of tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones typically develop distinct fronts and expansive, spiraling cloud bands that frequently adopt a characteristic comma shape, a visual cue for forecasters. Partyka further elaborated that while a mid-latitude storm might have been present over the Bering Sea regardless, Champi’s remnants likely "became intertwined with and helped intensify that system," amplifying its reach and potential impact on Alaska.
Alaska’s Unprecedented Barrage of Ex-Typhoons
The arrival of ex-Typhoon Champi in late October marked a significant milestone for Alaska: it was the fourth such extratropical storm, originating from a former typhoon, to enter Alaskan waters in 2026 alone. This follows a distinct pattern established earlier in the autumn with Bang-Lang in August, Dujuan in September, and Choi-wan in early October. While Alaska largely avoided catastrophic damage on the scale witnessed after ex-typhoon Halong struck western Alaskan Native villages in October 2025, Champi’s remnants still brought high winds, heavy rain, and substantial snowfall to various parts of the state, according to local news reports. Communities experienced disruptions, and emergency services remained on alert for potential flooding and power outages.
Rick Thoman, a meteorologist and climatologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, underscored the unusual frequency of these events. He highlighted that previous strong El Niño years, specifically 1997 and 2015, each recorded three ex-typhoon impacts on Alaska. The four events in 2026 thus set a new precedent for the state. Thoman’s extensive research indicates that approximately 60 ex-typhoons have impacted Alaska since 1970, placing 2026 as a standout year in terms of frequency and intensity. This repeated exposure challenges the state’s infrastructure and emergency preparedness, particularly for coastal and remote communities.
The El Niño Connection: A Global Climate Driver
The heightened tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific, including the unusual number of extratropical transitions affecting Alaska, is strongly linked by scientists to the robust El Niño phenomenon underway in 2026. El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that emerges roughly every two to seven years, characterized by warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures across a significant portion of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This oceanic warming has far-reaching atmospheric consequences, altering global weather patterns.
In the Northwest Pacific, El Niño typically influences the genesis and trajectory of tropical cyclones. Experts suggest that during El Niño years, storms in this basin tend to form further east and are more prone to curving northward rather than continuing their usual westward path towards East Asia and Southeast Asia. This altered steering current effectively directs more storms toward regions like Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. Consequently, these northward-tracking storms are more likely to undergo extratropical transition as they move into higher latitudes, increasing the probability of their remnants impacting areas like the Bering Sea and Alaska.
Gary Partyka described 2026 as a "particularly active year" for Pacific tropical cyclones, directly increasing the statistical chances of Alaska being affected by their extratropical remnants. He explicitly identified the strong El Niño as a "likely contributor" to this surge in activity. This climatic link provides a crucial framework for understanding the observed patterns and for anticipating future trends in tropical cyclone behavior and their broader regional impacts.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The events of late October 2026, featuring Super Typhoon In-fa and ex-Typhoon Champi, are not isolated incidents but rather illustrative components of a larger, dynamic climate system. The persistence of an active tropical cyclone season, amplified by a strong El Niño, presents significant challenges for forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation strategies across the Pacific Rim. The rarity of annular storms like In-fa underscores the complex and varied morphologies that tropical cyclones can adopt, each presenting unique hazards and requiring specialized understanding for accurate prediction.
For Alaska, the increasing frequency of ex-typhoon impacts necessitates a re-evaluation of infrastructure resilience, emergency response protocols, and long-term climate planning. While the immediate damage from Champi was less severe than some predecessors, the cumulative effect of multiple strong storms in a single season can strain resources and exacerbate vulnerabilities, particularly in regions already contending with coastal erosion and permafrost thaw.
The continuous monitoring capabilities provided by satellites like DSCOVR and Terra, with instruments like EPIC and MODIS, are indispensable for tracking these evolving weather phenomena. These technological eyes in the sky offer critical data that inform forecasts, enable timely warnings, and deepen scientific understanding of the intricate interactions between ocean, atmosphere, and climate patterns like El Niño. As climate change continues to influence global weather systems, the insights gained from observing events like those of November 2026 will be crucial in preparing communities for the challenges of an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable future. The season serves as a stark reminder of Earth’s powerful atmospheric forces and the interconnectedness of climate systems across vast oceanic stretches.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using data from DSCOVR EPIC and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Adam Voiland.
