Overview
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed on Sept. 15 that no hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic this season, the longest gap since routine satellite tracking began in 1966.
- So far the basin has produced five named storms—Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard—but none strengthened to hurricane force.
- Forecasters and NOAA's Climate Prediction Center link the lull to a strengthening El Niño, which raises upper-level wind shear and cools the Main Development Region, conditions that hinder storm growth.
- The National Hurricane Center said that if no hurricane forms by Sept. 22 the season would be on track to match or exceed a late-first-hurricane benchmark from 1941, and the season remains open through Nov. 30 so records could still change.
- Officials continue to monitor a low-probability disturbance southeast of Bermuda and note that the quiet Atlantic coincides with an active eastern and central Pacific, while urging communities to keep preparedness plans in place because a single late storm can still cause major impacts.