Genevieve becomes season's first major Category 4 hurricane as Fausto churns toward Hawaii
The FOX Forecast Center said cooler waters and intensely dry air will slowly weaken the storm as it inches closer to Hawaii.
Genevieve upgraded to Category 3 storm, becomes season's first major hurricane
Hurricane Genevieve has reached Category 3 status — becoming the season's first major hurricane — as it barrels through the Pacific. Stay with FOX Weather for the latest.
Hurricane Fausto is continuing its journey across the East Pacific towards the Hawaiian Islands after it peaked in intensity as a Category 2 storm. At the same time, Hurricane Genevieve has reached Category 4 status — becoming the season's first major hurricane — as it barrels through the Pacific.
As it heads toward Hawaii, Fausto is now slowly weakening as it's met with a hostile environment that makes tropical development much less likely.
BRYAN NORCROSS: THE ATLANTIC GOES QUIET AFTER BERTHA FADES AWAY
Hurricane Fausto forecast cone.
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 tropical storm sometime late Monday or early Tuesday.
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.
Hurricane Fausto has strengthened into a Category 2 storm as it continues its westward journey over the Pacific Ocean. pic.twitter.com/LN1dquwBb7
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 24, 2026
Forecasts continue to show Fausto tracking north of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday into Wednesday as a weakening tropical 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.
BRYAN NORCROSS: THE ATLANTIC IS ON SNOOZE WHILE HAWAII WATCHES FAUSTO
High surf is expected to arrive ahead of the expected weakening system's closest approach to Oahu and Kauai on Wednesday.
Swells generated by Fausto are expected to build along east-facing shores starting Sunday, spreading across the islands through Tuesday.
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)
While residents across Hawaii will certainly notice Fausto's presence, current indications do not point to a major threat.
"Normally, the primary hazard from east-to-west tropical systems is torrential mountain rainfall; the surrounding dry air should limit widespread flooding, though localized heavy downpours remain possible," according to the FOX Forecast Center.
WHAT IS A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE?
Because this forecast is still a few days away, the exact impacts could change. However, if current tracks hold, residents should primarily prepare for high surf, gusty winds and localized showers.
Hurricane Genevieve
Hurricane Genevieve was named on Saturday night, and it quickly intensified to a Category 4 storm by Sunday evening.
'EVOLVING CRISIS': COULD EL NIÑO BRING NEEDED RAIN TO THE 2 LARGEST RESERVOIRS IN THE US?
This makes Genevieve the first major hurricane of the 2026 eastern Pacific hurricane season, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Hurricane Genevieve brews in the Eastern Pacific.
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.
EYE OF THE SEASON: THE MOST NOTABLE ATLANTIC HURRICANES DURING EL NIÑO YEARS
Water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
(FOX Weather)
Forecasts indicate that Genevieve will undergo one or more periods of rapid intensification through Sunday.
Hurricane Genevieve is the first of this strength in the Pacific since Hurricane Kiko in September 2025.
Hurricane Genevieve forecast track.
Fortunately, current forecasts indicate Hurricane Genevieve is expected to remain over the open eastern Pacific, posing no threat to land, including Hawaii.
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 seven days.
Pacific tropics overview.
(FOX Weather)
A tropical depression is likely to form as the system moves west-northwest into the Western Pacific, the NHC said, with models indicating that the system will likely become a strong storm next week.
WHAT IS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE?
Because it is expected to develop after reaching the Western Pacific, future strengthening will result in it being classified as a typhoon instead of a hurricane, the FOX Forecast Center 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.