Hurricane Willa became the 12th hurricane to form in the eastern Pacific during this year’s hurricane season.
The dangerous storm also became the 9th major hurricane, which is one that measures category three or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Winds Scale.
Willa also became the second hurricane to reach category five status, packing winds higher than 157mph.
While 2018’s hurricane season did not beat previous seasons in the number of hurricanes, the severity of the ones that formed has surpassed the years before.
Of the nine major hurricanes, seven reached category four status – maintaining winds of more than 130mph.
A total of 40 people have died in this hurricane season so far, as a result of both tropical storms and hurricanes.
An estimated $246million (£190million) worth of damage has been caused by the deadly storm season so far this year.
Speaking to express.co.uk, Professor Bill McGuire Emeritus Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at University College London explains why this season has been such an active one in the eastern Pacific.
“The amount of energy (known as Accumulated Cyclone Energy or ACE) expended by Pacific hurricanes this season is the highest on record – and the season still isn’t over!”
The ACE index tallies the numbers, strength and duration of all of the season’s tropical storms and hurricanes.
Hurricane Willa and Tropical Storm Vincente pushed the season’s activity over the edge to make it the most active.
There is still time for this activity to increase even more, as the Eastern Pacific hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30.
Professor McGuire explained the high ACE score “is reflected in the intensity of the storms and the speed of the circulating winds, and therefore in their potential for destruction and loss of life.”
But why is this year’s season so active?
Professor McGuire sid: “The higher energy storms are promoted by warmer than usual Pacific ocean waters, which allow storms to form easily.
“The low vertical wind shear this year, which has allowed storms to grow big and powerful, rather than being broken up.
“The Pacific is nearly always more active than the Atlantic, but many storms head into the vastness of the Pacific where they blow themselves out before reaching land.
“This year a number of major storms have made landfall, for example, Lane and now Willa, making the news more than usual.
Are hurricanes becoming worse year on year?
Professor McGuire says there is “always considerable variation in activity from one year to the next.”
However, as the world continues to warm, the Geophysical & Climate Hazards expert warned: “this will drive more powerful hurricanes, with the power to cause major destruction if and when they strike land.”