The Atlantic Hasn't Had A Hurricane Yet: Here's Why

This is typically the time of year when the Atlantic hurricane season kicks into high gear, but 2026 has been remarkably quiet. As of September. 22, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has produced six named storms and zero hurricanes, according to the National Hurricane Center. The latest storm, Tropical Storm Fay, formed Sept. 19 and reached maximum sustained winds of 60 knots before weakening. It never reached the 64-knot threshold required to become a hurricane.

The date signifies a historical milestone. 2026 is the first year since 1914 that no Atlantic hurricane had formed by September 21, breaking a 112-year record. While the season isn’t over, the fact that there have been no hurricanes in 2026 in the Atlantic Ocean has scientists taking a deeper look at what’s caused the change for hurricane season 2026.

September Is Usually The Busiest Time of Year

Officially, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from July 1 through November 30, but storm activity generally isn’t evenly distributed across those six months. According to the National Hurricane Center, September 10 is the peak of hurricane season. Most activity takes place between the middle of August and the middle of October. By late September, the season has normally already produced several hurricanes.

According to data published by the National Hurricane Center, there were 14 named storms on average between 1991 and 2020. Of those annual averages, seven became hurricanes, and three of them became major hurricanes. Through September 22, 2026, the Atlantic had six named storms, zero hurricanes, and zero major hurricanes.

The Center relies on accumulated cyclone energy, a measurement that focuses on storm strength and duration. According to recent data, the accumulated cyclone energy for 2026 was just 6.3, which puts it 92% below the average energy rating from 1991 through 2020. This isn't simply a year with fewer hurricanes than expected. The entire basin has been unusually inactive.

The Record Is About More Than One Missing Storm

Going back to 1851, only two years, 1907 and 1914, ended without a recorded hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. If 2026 ultimately goes the entire season without one, it would become only the third such season in the historical record. However, 2026 doesn’t have to make it all the way to November 30 to set a remarkable record.

The important milestone is how long the Atlantic has gone without producing its first hurricane. Before this year, the latest date a hurricane had formed in the satellite era was September 11, in both 2002 and 2013. If the Atlantic hurricane season reaches September 21 without one, 2026 will go beyond that modern record. Every day that passes without a hurricane continues to extend a streak that’s already historical.

Fay Came Close, But Not Close Enough

The Atlantic’s most recent storm offered a powerful illustration of just how unusual this season has been. Tropical storm Fay formed on September 19, and eventually strengthened to 60 knots, which translates to roughly 69 mph. To be considered a hurricane, a storm must reach 64 knots, or 74 mph.

By September 22, the National Hurricane Center had clocked Fay at 40 mph as the storm continued to weaken. The system also posed no significant threat to land.

El Niño Is A Big Part Of The Explanation

While the season has been historically quiet, scientists were anticipating a slowdown in the Atlantic hurricane season this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called for a 75% chance of a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast included a 70% probability that the season would produce between seven and 13 named storms, two to six hurricanes, and between 0 and two major hurricanes. The forecast also identified the developing El Niño as an important factor.

Scientists agree that increased vertical wind shear is one of the driving forces behind the decrease in hurricanes. Vertical wind shear refers to winds at different levels of the atmosphere moving at different speeds and directions.

El Niño has created an atmospheric environment that has worked against Atlantic hurricane development. Meteorologists had been watching that pattern for months, which is one reason NOAA expected a below-normal season before the season began.

It’s possible that 2026’s Atlantic hurricane season will come to an end without any hurricane activity, which would break a 112-year record. However, even if a storm manages to form between now and the end of November, 2026 has already been a significant year for scientists.

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