The lack of hurricanes so far should not lead to complacency among residents along the East and Gulf coasts. Forecasters warn that the same weather patterns suppressing storm development could create brief windows of favorable conditions, allowing storms to intensify quickly. This is particularly concerning during El Niño years, as storms forming closer to land in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or western Atlantic could leave little time for preparation. Historical examples, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, demonstrate how a quiet season can still produce devastating storms.