El Niño keeps Atlantic hurricane season unusually quiet
• The Atlantic hurricane season of 2026 has been remarkably quiet, with no hurricanes forming by mid-September, setting a new record for the latest start to hurricane activity in the basin. This unusual calm is attributed to a significant El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean, which increases vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, disrupting the formation and intensification of hurricanes. El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), occurs when Pacific Ocean temperatures near the equator are warmer than average. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has classified the current El Niño as 'Very Strong' and forecasts a 90% chance of it persisting through the fall and winter of 2026-
• (Source time: 2026-09-16T01:44:00Z)
Impact & Risks
The reduced hurricane activity in the Atlantic is a positive outcome of the current El Niño, as it minimizes the risk of storm-related damage in coastal regions. However, the phenomenon's global impacts include increased hurricane activity in the eastern and central Pacific, which could pose risks to those areas. Additionally, the strong El Niño may lead to extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and temperature anomalies, in various parts of the world.