El Nino leaves Atlantic without hurricanes in record September
A strong El Nino event suppresses Atlantic activity, resulting in zero hurricanes in September 2026 and marking a historic satellite-era first.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- No hurricanes formed in the Atlantic throughout September for the first time in over 30 years.
- A powerful El Nino is driving high wind shear across the Atlantic basin, suppressing storm growth.
- The eastern North Pacific has seen an exceptionally active season with nine hurricanes so far.
- The 2026 Atlantic season faces the possibility of zero hurricanes for the first time in the satellite era.
September 2026 has set a dramatic weather record as the North Atlantic ocean remained entirely devoid of hurricanes throughout the entire month. This marks the first time in over three decades that September—historically the most active and intense month for tropical storm activity—has passed without a single hurricane development.
With only two months remaining before the defined hurricane season concludes on November 30, the probability of zero hurricanes forming throughout the entire season is steadily increasing. Should this trend hold, 2026 will become the single recorded year in the satellite monitoring era starting from the 1960s without a single hurricane.
The primary driver behind this unusual quietness is El Nino, which typically stifles storm activity in the Atlantic. Back in May, the US National Hurricane Center anticipated a quieter season due to this phenomenon, predicting eight to 14 named storms, three to six of which would reach hurricane status, and one to three becoming major hurricanes.
Despite the lack of hurricanes, four named tropical storms did form during September: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, and Hanna. All except Edouard remained out in the open waters, and the National Hurricane Center indicates no signs of upcoming tropical storm or hurricane activity over the following week.
El Nino represents the natural warming of tropical Pacific waters, but its ripple effects disrupt weather patterns globally. Shifting upper-level winds during El Nino generate high wind shear across the Atlantic. When winds blow at contrasting speeds and directions at higher altitudes, they tear thunderstorms apart before they can organize into tropical storms. Conversely, record-high sea surface temperatures in the Pacific provide storms with abundant energy to thrive.
Forecasters at Colorado State University note that the robust El Nino is actively disrupting wind patterns across the Atlantic, driving below-normal activity over the upcoming two-week window. As the typical seasonal peak has passed and activity trends downward toward November 30, a season completely free of hurricanes looks increasingly likely.
In the historical Atlantic database, no year has been recorded without a hurricane since 1914, though pre-satellite records lacked absolute certainty. Meanwhile, the Eastern North Pacific has surged with activity, breaking temperature records in central-eastern waters and producing roughly two and a half times more energy than normal. Forecasters predict El Nino will continue strengthening toward a peak in November or December.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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