Hurricane Vance formed south of Mexico on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane early Friday, Oct. 23. The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm has sustained winds of 85 mph. Forecasters expect the system to reach Category 3 status with winds of 115 mph by Saturday morning, Oct. 24.
Vance is the 13th hurricane of the 2026 Pacific season and the first storm in the basin to receive a "V" name since 2018. Meteorologists at the FOX Forecast Center noted that while the storm is moving through an area of cooler water caused by upwelling from previous storms, sea surface temperatures remain above the 80-degree threshold required for strengthening. A Tehuantepecer wind event—powerful offshore winds moving through Mexico's Chivela Pass—is also contributing to the storm's organization.
In the western Pacific, Super Typhoon Champi continues to track toward Taiwan and Japan. Champi reached maximum sustained winds of 185 mph with gusts to 225 mph earlier this week, tying Super Typhoon Sinlaku as the strongest storm on Earth in 2026. As of Friday morning, Champi’s winds were 120 mph, and the system is generating 68-foot waves.
In the western Pacific, Super Typhoon Champi, despite gradual weakening from its peak 185 mph winds, continues to produce tropical storm conditions and heavy rainfall. According to meteorologists, the system's history as a super typhoon means it retains the capacity for significant precipitation that exceeds a typical tropical storm, which may lead to impacts in Japanese cities like Nagasaki and Osaka by late this weekend or early next week.
The high activity in the Pacific—including 10 major storms of Category 3 or higher this year—is attributed by the FOX Forecast Center to a strong El Niño climate pattern. This pattern has resulted in unusually warm ocean temperatures. Beyond the immediate threats to Taiwan and Japan, moisture from the remnants of Champi is projected to eventually reach Alaska. Residents in the projected paths of both Vance and Champi are advised to monitor official updates for potential evacuation orders or travel disruptions as the storms progress.