World News
Strong El Niño suppresses Atlantic hurricanes while fueling intense Pacific storms
High wind shear restricts Atlantic activity as record Pacific ocean warmth drives rapid cyclone growth.
The short version
- A powerful El Niño climate pattern is driving record high activity in the Pacific Ocean while suppressing storm formation in the Atlantic.[NPR]
- The Atlantic has recorded no full-blown hurricanes so far in 2026, marking a rare occurrence in modern observational history.[Deutsche Welle · NPR]
- In contrast, reduced wind shear and elevated sea temperatures in the Pacific have fueled 18 hurricanes, including rapidly intensifying storms like Hurricane Polo.[Deutsche Welle · NPR]
- Forecasters emphasize that quiet conditions in late September do not rule out potential hurricane development before the Atlantic season ends on November 30.[Deutsche Welle]
Key facts
- The Pacific Ocean has recorded 18 hurricanes and 41 named storms as of late September 2026.[NPR]
- No hurricanes have formed in the North Atlantic through late September 2026, a phenomenon unprecedented in the satellite era.[Deutsche Welle · NPR]
- Sea-surface temperatures in key Pacific regions have risen by over 3 °C above average.[Deutsche Welle]
- Hurricane Polo intensified from a tropical storm into a Category 5 hurricane off Mexico's coast in under 24 hours.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which climate change directly drives stronger El Niño events remains scientifically uncertain.[NPR]
- Whether major hurricanes will still form in the Atlantic before the season ends on November 30 remains unknown.[Deutsche Welle]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.