Atlantic Hurricane Season Sees Rare September Lull
Atlantic Hurricane Season Sees Rare September Lull
US · Published Sep 27, 2026
• As of late September 2026, the Atlantic hurricane season is experiencing an unprecedented lull, with no hurricanes forming in the basin so far this year. This marks the longest wait for the first hurricane in the satellite era, surpassing the previous record of September 11, set in 2013 and
• Typically, the Atlantic sees an average of five hurricanes by September 28, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The lack of activity is attributed to a strong El Niño, which has historically suppressed hurricane formation in the Atlantic. Only two other years since World War II—1962 and 1994—have seen a hurricane-free September. Despite the current calm, meteorologists caution that the season is not over, and late-season hurricanes remain a possibility (source: weather.com, 2026-09-26).

Impact & Risks

The quiet Atlantic hurricane season has reduced the immediate risk of hurricane-related damage for coastal regions in the U.S. and the Caribbean. However, experts warn that the season is not over, and late-season hurricanes could still form, particularly in November. Historical data from similar strong El Niño years, such as 1997 and 2015, show that while hurricanes may not make direct landfall, they can still cause significant indirect impacts. For example, Hurricane Joaquin in 2015 caused $2 billion in damages and over two dozen deaths in the Carolinas due to atmospheric river flooding, despite not making landfall in the U.S.

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