The Atlantic hurricane season is likely to establish a new record this week for the latest date without a hurricane forming in the satellite era, which began in the 1960s. As of 11 September 2026, no hurricanes have developed in the basin, despite this period typically marking the season's peak.
The current record for the latest hurricane formation is 11 September, previously observed in 2002 and 2013. Forecasters see no immediate signs of development in the Atlantic, suggesting this record will be surpassed.
This unusually quiet period is largely attributed to a strengthening El Niño, which is expected to be one of the strongest on record. El Niño causes increased wind shear in the Atlantic, preventing thunderstorms from developing into tropical storms or hurricanes. Saharan dust has also contributed to suppressing activity.
In contrast, the eastern Pacific has experienced a fairly active season, with 13 named storms, including five hurricanes. Major hurricane Lowell recently impacted Hawaii with damaging winds, flooding, and high waves.