Why Hurricanes Rarely Strike the U.S. West Coast.

The article examines why the eastern Pacific Ocean experiences fewer impactful hurricanes on the U.S. west coast compared to the Atlantic, despite having a comparable or higher number of named storms. Key factors include cooler ocean temperatures along the Pacific coast due to the California Current, prevailing trade winds that steer storms away from land, and wind shear in the upper atmosphere that disrupts storm formation. Recent La Niña cycles have further suppressed Pacific hurricane activity, though climate change may increase the intensity and frequency of storms in both basins over the coming decade. The article emphasizes that natural climatic conditions primarily govern hurricane behavior, with anthropogenic influences playing a secondary but evolving role.