Hurricanes 2026: Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season

On 11 October 2026, a sailor was dramatically rescued from his yacht off Coronado, near San Diego. He had run aground; waves were crashing over the boat; the skipper was trapped in the partially flooded cabin and was already struggling to breathe. Help arrived from the air. A helicopter lowered a lifeguard onto the yacht. The rescuer first handed the man in the cabin his snorkel. He then broke open part of the cabin roof and freed him. This is how the US Coast Guard operation.

Rescuers can only reach the yacht by air

At around 4 o’clock local time, the sailor made an emergency call to report that his boat had run aground and was taking on water. A Coastguard rescue boat located the yacht but was unable to reach it due to shallow water and dangerous wave conditions. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Ventura Air Station was then deployed. Lifeguard Mike Antoon was lowered down to the stricken vessel. Antoon found the man, who was trapped in the partially submerged cabin and gasping for air as waves washed over the vessel. Antoon gave the man his snorkel before tearing open part of the cabin roof to free him.

Following the rescue, the helicopter crew flew the man to the Coast Guard in San Diego. There, he was handed over to the ambulance service at around 7.25 am. No further details are available regarding his condition, the cause of the grounding or the type of boat.

“Rachel”: Dangerous surf even after the hurricane

The incident took place during a spell of dangerous weather off the coast of Southern California. On 11 October, the US National Weather Service issued a warning of dangerous conditions on the beaches along the San Diego coast. The former Hurricane Rachel had weakened as it moved northwards. The storm’s effects – strong surf and high water levels – remained a major concern for the coast.

“Isaias” hits Florida, “Simon” threatens Mexico’s Pacific coast

Whilst “Rachel” was affecting the south-west of the USA, Hurricane “Isaias” made landfall on the US Gulf Coast on 9 October. According to the National Hurricane Centre, it made landfall near Destin in Florida with sustained wind speeds of around 165 kilometres per hour. It had previously reached Category 3 at times, but was classified as a Category 2 storm at the time of landfall.

At the same time, “Simon” was moving along the Mexican Pacific coast. The hurricane reached Category 4 at times; the meteorological service issued warnings of dangerous surf, heavy rain and landslides. The storms formed in different basins: “Isaias” in the Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico, and “Rachel” and “Simon” in the eastern Pacific.

Why the Atlantic remained so calm in 2026

In the Atlantic, “Isaias” did not develop into the season’s first hurricane until 8 October. The National Hurricane Centre’s interim report dated 13 October recorded nine named storms, but only one hurricane. The so-called ACE value stood at 18, which was 83 per cent below the long-term average for the same time of year.

ACE stands for ‘Accumulated Cyclone Energy’. This figure takes into account both the intensity and the duration of named tropical storms. The figures therefore describe not only how many systems formed, but also the total amount of storm activity that has accumulated. The fact that the first hurricane did not occur until October does not automatically mean that the entire season is being pushed back. In particular, the period in late summer, which is usually active, remained unusually quiet.

El Niño has different effects in the Atlantic and the Pacific

El Niño provides a key explanation. During this phenomenon, the water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific is warmer than usual; at the same time, large-scale air currents change. On 8 October, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centre confirmed that El Niño had continued to intensify.

In the Atlantic, El Niño often increases vertical wind shear: wind direction and wind speed then vary more significantly between different altitudes. These differences can disrupt the structure of a developing cyclone and push thunderstorms away from the centre. In the eastern and central Pacific, however, El Niño can create more favourable conditions for tropical cyclones. We have the The impact of El Niño on sailors as already discussed in an earlier article.

The interim figures for the eastern and central Pacific as at 13 October illustrate just how marked the contrast is: the ACE value stands at 216.7 in the eastern Pacific and 108.1 in the central Pacific. Both figures are well above the respective averages for this time of year. Together, they total 324.8; however, the basins are recorded separately in the official statistics. It is not yet possible to deduce a final seasonal record from this. El Niño favours this pattern, but does not explain every single storm or every one of its effects.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on 30 November. Until then, every new storm remains a separate event that must be assessed independently of the otherwise quiet season so far.

Webinar tip: If you wish to systematically factor weather information into your route planning for your next voyage, the Webinar on weather-based sailing trip planning how to deal with weather windows and possible routes.

Book recommendations

Weather at sea explains how weather patterns develop and where to find reliable information for assessing them. Among other things, the book covers tropical weather, sea states, ocean currents and meteorological route planning. It thus expands on the section of the article that contextualises El Niño and the differing conditions in the Atlantic and Pacific. For crews, the practical benefit lies in better understanding weather data prior to a crossing and incorporating it into their planning.

Sailing in heavy weather begins where weather conditions turn into a real challenge for the boat and its crew. Peter Bruce discusses how different types of boat behave in extreme weather, the suitability of equipment such as spinnakers and sea anchors, and tactics for weathering the storm. Accounts of heavy-weather incidents complement the technical chapters.

What weather information do you consider crucial when deciding, before setting off on a sailing trip, whether a particular area is safe to sail in?