2026 May Be the Year Without Hurricanes
Hurricane season typically runs from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic. As of Sept. 23, the 2026 hurricane season has produced something so unusual that it has broken a 112-year-old record.
According to AccuWeather, this year marks the furthest the Atlantic basin has made it into the season without a hurricane in decades. Not only that, but the Atlantic is just weeks away from breaking another record as well.
And if the Atlantic makes it through the entire season without a single hurricane, it will tie for yet another record. So what’s behind the calm weather? It sounds like experts believe El Niño could be the reason for the lull, creating conditions that make it less and less likely that hurricanes will form in the Atlantic.
While people in hurricane-prone areas may be celebrating that news, experts warn that a year without hurricanes could cause more problems down the line, since hurricanes work to redistribute warmth from the tropics to the poles.
Satellites Have Been Tracking This Data Since 1966
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AccuWeather reports that this hurricane season has already broken two records. First, it broke a record for having no hurricanes by Sept. 12. This date is notable because it uses data that has been collected since 1966, when satellites were first widely used to track storms.
Then, the 2026 season broke another record by making it to Sept. 21 without any hurricanes. The last time this happened was 1941. Of course, AccuWeather notes that the data collected back then may have been incorrect, since the info was collected by those who could see the storms forming in the distance.
And if there are no hurricanes by Oct. 8, another record will be made, since the last time the Atlantic basin made it that far into the season without a hurricane was 1905.
There Are Only Two Years on Record With No Known Hurricanes
The largely quiet season wouldn’t be the first of its kind, but it would still be very unique. That’s because there are only two years on record with no known hurricanes, and they occurred in 1907 and 1914. It sounds like the Atlantic basin could reach that milestone.
The National Weather Service says the winds created by El Niño suppress storm activity, making it harder for hurricanes to form because of the westerly winds that come along with it. These winds effectively cut the top off of the storms, tearing them apart before they can get established.
Why Does Earth Need Hurricanes?
Anyone who has ever experienced a hurricane firsthand knows how terrifying they can be. However, WTOL11 reports that the planet needs them to function. Hurricanes draw moisture and heat away from the tropics and send it toward the poles, regulating temperatures around the world.
Hurricanes also help moderate the conditions in different parts of the world, setting the stage for fall and winter by influencing jet streams and ocean currents. That can impact snowfall and cold weather. The Atlantic basin hasn’t seen what a modern winter looks like without summer and fall hurricanes, so the data collected this year (if it is indeed a year without hurricanes) will likely prove invaluable to experts.
