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This Atlantic hurricane season is looking like a dud, but there will be a price to pay
Ars Technica • • nation
Key Points:
- Houston has experienced two named tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, in the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, both passing near or over the city, but both were moderate in intensity.
- The 2026 hurricane season is expected to be below normal, with accumulated cyclone energy currently less than 30% of the average and forecasts predicting only nine named storms and four hurricanes, down from earlier estimates.
- The primary factor for the quieter season is a rapidly strengthening El Niño in the equatorial Pacific, which increases wind shear in the Atlantic and suppresses hurricane development.
- Despite fewer storms expected, there remains a possibility of serious threats later in the season, but overall hurricane activity is unlikely to be intense or frequent.
- The strong El Niño event is predicted to be one of the strongest on record, contributing to elevated global temperatures in 2027 and exacerbating climate change impacts worldwide.
