For the First Time in a Century, the Atlantic May See No Hurricanes

The Atlantic Ocean has seen no hurricanes this year for the first time in over a century, according to forecasters. The record-breaking quiet season is attributed to a powerful El Niño phenomenon and other factors. Alex DaSilva, a hurricane expert at AccuWeather, stated that this could be one of the most extraordinary Atlantic hurricane seasons in history.

The last hurricane-free season was in 1914, with the previous one in 1907. While reliable data on hurricane counts only exists since 1966, with the advent of satellite monitoring, it's possible that both 1914 and 1907 experienced hurricanes that went unrecorded. The unusually low activity is not due to a lack of warm ocean temperatures, as the Atlantic's sea surface temperatures are the second warmest on record.

Instead, a Super El Niño, intensified by warming, is generating strong westerly winds that are disrupting hurricane formation. Additionally, the air above the Atlantic basin has been largely sinking, preventing cloud formation and the development of thunderstorms that lead to cyclones. Dry air has also hindered hurricane development.

While the Atlantic hurricane season typically reaches its peak in late August and early September, the odds of a hurricane decrease after this period. Meteorologist John Morales noted that only one of the three previous Super El Niños produced an Atlantic hurricane after October 1. Despite the current quiet season, Morales advises staying informed, but hopes the rest of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season remains as inactive. Meanwhile, rising marine heat waves continue to threaten ocean life.