August and September passed without a single Atlantic hurricane, and forecasters now say the season could finish with zero hurricanes for the first time since 1914. That possibility is striking given the long observational record: routine satellite monitoring only began in 1966, so earlier years (including 1907 and 1914) may have missed storms over remote ocean areas. AccuWeather and other forecasting groups describe the 2026 season as one of the most extraordinary in modern history.
The quiet season is not due to cool seas - Atlantic surface temperatures are the second warmest on record - but to a strong Super El Niño, which scientists say has been intensified by global warming. The El Niño is driving powerful westerly winds, producing atmospheric sinking and injecting dry air over the basin, all of which suppress the clusters of thunderstorms that spawn hurricanes. Historical behavior of prior Super El Niños also shows low odds of post-October 1 hurricane development. Meteorologists urge continued vigilance despite the lull, while noting the unusual combination of warm ocean and hostile atmospheric conditions that have effectively stifled storm formation.
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