Historic crossover: Atlantic and Pacific share storms twice this year
For the second time this year, a named system had crossed over into another ocean while maintaining tropical storm intensity -- a feat that has never been accomplished before in history.
When Tropical Storm Julia made its way into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic on Sunday, it wasn't the only notable entry it made.
SEE ALSO: The curse of storm nine: Why so many “I” hurricanes are monsters
For the second time this year, a named system has crossed over into another ocean while maintaining tropical storm intensity -- a feat that has never been accomplished before in history. While named Atlantic storms have trekked into the Pacific before, such as Hurricane Otto in 2016, the crossover had never occurred more than once in a single season at this strength.
The first storm in 2022 to take this transatlantic journey was Bonnie in July. It also took a path across Central America to get to the Pacific. Both Julia and Bonnie retained their original names for the duration of their lifespans over the Pacific basin, only the third time this has been documented.
It should be noted there have been two other seasons documented, 1988 and 1996, that featured at least two multiple crossover storms. However, both only featured one storm retaining at least a tropical storm status while the other was a tropical depression.
But it isn't just the Pacific that has seen storms venture there from the Atlantic. The swap has occurred the other way, as well, with at least one event where the storm kept its tropical status (unnamed in October 1923).
Julia emerged over the eastern Pacific on Sunday evening after battering Nicaragua with rain and winds that damaged hundreds of homes, according to government officials.
WATCH: "I" named hurricanes are statistically more devastating, here's why
With files from MétéoMédia.
Follow Nathan Howes on Twitter.
