Atlantic hurricane season records unprecedented lull amid strong El Niño

The short version

• As of late September 2026, the North Atlantic has seen six tropical storms and zero hurricanes, marking a record low in the satellite era.[Deutsche Welle]
• A strengthening El Niño is driving high wind shear across the Atlantic, curbing storm formation while boosting cyclone activity in the Pacific.[Deutsche Welle]
• Forecasters emphasize that the quiet Atlantic pattern does not preclude severe heat, regional drought, or late-season storms.[Deutsche Welle]

Key facts

• As of September 23, 2026, only six tropical storms formed in the North Atlantic with zero hurricanes, an unprecedented absence for the satellite era according to NOAA.[Deutsche Welle]
• The accumulated cyclone energy for Atlantic tropical storms reached a record low for late September.[Deutsche Welle]
• Pacific sea surface temperatures in key regions rose by more than 3 °C (5.4 °F), signaling a very strong El Niño expected to persist for six months.[Deutsche Welle]
• Reduced wind shear and warmer ocean temperatures are driving higher cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific.[Deutsche Welle]
• The World Meteorological Organization noted that Pacific storms are shifting northward toward Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• El Nino explained: How the weather pattern affects hurricanes and tropical stormsDeutsche Welle