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The Atlantic Ocean just broke a 60-year record for the longest stretch without a hurricane. Here's why.
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has seen no hurricanes form as of September 15, marking the longest stretch without an Atlantic hurricane since at least 1966, the start of modern storm tracking.
- Typically, the first hurricane of the season forms by early or mid-August, but in rare cases, it can occur in September; prior to 2026, the latest first hurricane formed on September 11.
- NOAA had forecasted below-normal hurricane activity for 2026, predicting 7 to 13 named storms with 2 to 6 hurricanes, influenced primarily by a strong El Niño event.
- El Niño, characterized by warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures and increased wind shear in the Atlantic, tends to suppress hurricane development in the Atlantic basin, contributing to calmer seasons.
- The ongoing strong El Niño is expected to persist through the peak hurricane months, reinforcing the likelihood of continued below-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic this season.
