El Nino keeps Atlantic hurricane-free as 2026 breaks 112-year-old record

The Atlantic has gone without a hurricane till 21 September, the latest such delay since 1914. The milestone highlights how a strong El Nino and wind shear have suppressed storm growth this season.NOAA's August outlook had already projected a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. (Photo: Windy)The Atlantic hurricane season has entered uncharted territory, with no hurricane forming till September 21, the first time in more than a century that the basin has remained hurricane-free this late in the season.The last time the Atlantic reached September 21 without producing a hurricane was 1914.The current record is particularly remarkable because the Atlantic hurricane season typically peaks around September 10, when ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions are generally most favourable for storm development.The unusual calm is being linked largely to a strong El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino changes atmospheric circulation patterns across the tropics and increases vertical wind shear over the Atlantic. This means winds at different levels of the atmosphere blow at different speeds and directions, disrupting the organised thunderstorms needed for tropical systems to strengthen into hurricanes. Tropical Storm Fay briefly threatened to end the record. (Photo: Windy) According to NOAA, its August outlook had already projected a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with El Nino expected to continue through the peak months and suppress tropical development. The Atlantic has not been completely storm-free. Six named storms have formed so far this season, Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard and Fay, but none has reached hurricane strength.NOAA's latest summary through September 21 shows zero hurricanes and zero major hurricanes, with accumulated cyclone energy about 93% below the 1991–2020 average.Tropical Storm Fay briefly threatened to end the record. The storm reached maximum sustained winds of around 70 mph, just below the 74 mph threshold required to become a hurricane. But Fay subsequently weakened as it encountered unfavourable conditions, including wind shear and dry air.The record does not necessarily mean the Atlantic will remain quiet for the rest of the season. The official hurricane season continues until November 30, and favourable conditions can still develop later.Still, 2026 has already become an extraordinary year for Atlantic weather, showing how a climate pattern thousands of kilometres away in the Pacific can dramatically influence hurricane formation across the Atlantic Ocean.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Sep 22, 2026 12:55 IST