// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Could El Niño mean there are no Atlantic hurricanes this year?
For the first time in more than 30 years, a hurricane has not formed in the Atlantic throughout September - normally the most active month for hurricane activity.
With just two months left of the defined hurricane season, there is an increasing possibility that no hurricanes will develop at all.
This would make the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season the only one in the satellite era without a hurricane.
The biggest reason for this is El Niño, which traditionally stifles activity in the Atlantic but brings a very active season in the eastern North Pacific.
The Atlantic hurricane season was predicted to be quieter than normal as a result of this.
With a very strong El Niño forecast, the US National Hurricane Center in May predicted a total of eight to 14 named storms. Of those, three to six were predicted to become hurricanes, with one to three becoming major hurricanes.
September is typically the most active month for tropical storm and hurricane activity.
But, this year marks the latest date on record since the start of the satellite era (1960s onward) where no hurricane has formed in the North Atlantic.
While there have been no hurricanes forming in the North Atlantic so far this season, the Eastern North Pacific has been very active with above-average storms
There were, however, four named tropical storms that formed in September: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna.