Ignacio: A Rare Tropical Storm So Far North

Quincy Vagell
Published: September 4,2015

• Tropical storm Ignacio was located near 34 degrees North latitude in the central Pacific Friday night, moving north, well north of Hawaii.
• Ignacio is forecast to remain a named tropical storm through most of this weekend, moving toward the Gulf of Alaska.
• Based on that forecast, Ignacio could become the second furthest north tropical storm on record in the central or eastern Pacific.

(MORE: Ignacio Bound For ... Alaska?)
More than a week after it developed, Ignacio was still going strong Friday night, and is moving north into somewhat uncharted territory.
Most tropical systems in the Pacific quickly weaken north of 30 degrees North, but thanks in part to anamalously warm ocean temperatures, Ignacio has remained a tropical cyclone as it races north. It is forecast to pass 40 degrees North as a tropical storm and could make it even further before eventually becoming extratropical.
Since record keeping began in 1949, only four tropical storms have reached 40 degrees North in the central or eastern Pacific.

Tropical Storms North of 40N

Three of those systems (Dot, Guillermo and Wene) quickly weakened at that point. The unnamed storm in 1975 actually became a hurricane for a time after crossing that boundary, before weakening to a remnant low just before reaching southeastern Alaska. Guillermo remained an extratropical storm as it circled through the Gulf of Alaska and toward the West Coast of the United States.

Forecast Track

Where Will Ignacio Go?

Based on the latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast, Ignacio is expected to start the extratropical transition process around 44 degrees North and become a still robust extratropical storm by 47 degrees North. Should this happen, Ignacio would become the second furthest north tropical storm on record, dating back to 1949.
Although the remnants of Ignacio should curve east before reaching Alaska, some of its leftover moisture could brush the southeastern portion of the state. Along the Alaska coastline, increased surf can be expected from the system's swells by early next week. Beyond that, the extratropical system could move into the Northwest, bringing more beneficial rains to portions of the region.
(FORECAST: Portland | Seattle
Remnants of weakening tropical cyclones in the western Pacific have approached the Aleutian Islands, but none of those systems remained tropical as they moved toward the Gulf of Alaska.
With warm ocean temperatures in place and a strengthening El Niño expected in the coming months, the tropical Pacific may remain active for while.
MORE: 7 Wonders of Alaska