2026 Hurricane Season

The Atlantic has gone later into the year without producing a hurricane than at any point since routine satellite monitoring began in 1966.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and five named storms have formed so far — Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard. However, none became a hurricane.

That is what makes this year historic. The previous record for the latest first hurricane was September 11. Hurricane Gustav became the first hurricane of the 2002 season on that date, while Humberto did the same in 2013. The Atlantic has now passed September 11, 2026, without a hurricane, breaking the satellite-era record.

A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph. The strongest storms so far this year, Bertha and Edouard, peaked at 50 knots, or about 58 mph, according to National Hurricane Center data.

The unusually quiet conditions are particularly notable because September is normally the heart of Atlantic hurricane activity. A powerful El Niño has helped suppress development by producing strong wind shear and other conditions that make it difficult for tropical systems to strengthen.

As of Saturday, September 12, the National Hurricane Center reported no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. Forecasters nevertheless caution that the season is far from over and hurricanes can still develop before the official end of the season on November 30.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: 2026 Breaks Record for Going This Long Without an Atlantic Hurricane.