Still no hurricanes in the Atlantic: A record in 60 years of record-keeping

Although the peak of hurricane season has just passed, no hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic so far this season, a particularly rare occurrence.

A record since 1966!

Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, a period when conditions are most favorable for tropical cyclone development. Ocean waters become sufficiently warm, while the atmosphere becomes more conducive to the development of tropical systems.

Tropical cyclone activity is generally highest between August and October, reaching its climatological peak around September 10. According to NOAA, by around September 10, an average of three hurricanes have already formed in the Atlantic, which is far from the case this year.

In fact, as of September 16, 2026, no hurricanes had formed in the Atlantic basin since the start of hurricane season, something unprecedented since satellite observations began in 1966.

Before the satellite era, some storms that developed far from land could go undetected, making historical records less complete. However, a reanalysis of the data identified a precedent in 1941, when the season's first hurricane did not develop until September 21. If no hurricane forms before that date in 2026, this historical record could also be broken.

Is a hurricane-free year possible?

Since the start of the season, only five named storms have formed in the Atlantic basin, and none has reached hurricane strength. The strongest, Bertha and Edward, peaked at 50 knots, or about 58 mph (93 km/h) sustained winds, remaining well below the 74 mph (119 km/h) threshold required to become a hurricane.

A hurricane-free season remains an extremely rare event. Since records began in 1851, only two seasons, 1907 and 1914, recorded no hurricanes in the Atlantic. However, it is important to remember that before the satellite era, some hurricanes that formed far out at sea may have gone undetected and unrecorded.

This low level of activity is mainly due to the onset of El Niño, which could reach historic intensity this year. This phenomenon increases wind shear across the Atlantic, a factor that makes it more difficult for tropical systems to develop and significantly limits their intensification.

The situation is very different in the Pacific, where the phenomenon favors the formation and strengthening of tropical systems. This has created a sharp contrast between the two basins, with significantly greater tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific, while the Atlantic has remained exceptionally quiet in recent months.

It remains to be seen whether this area will strengthen enough to become the first hurricane of this unusually quiet 2026 season, or whether the Atlantic will remain hurricane-free in the coming weeks, potentially leading to a season unlike any seen since modern observations began.