The Atlantic Ocean is experiencing its longest hurricane dry spell on record, with no hurricanes forming as of mid-September. This marks the most prolonged period without a hurricane since the modern era of storm tracking began in 1966, according to AccuWeather.
If no hurricanes form by September 22, the current year will break an 85-year record for the longest dry spell, dating back to 1941. Should the Atlantic remain hurricane-free through November 30, it would be only the third such year on record, following 1914 and 1907. However, forecasters caution that storm records from before the satellite era may be incomplete due to difficulties in detecting storms far from land.
The last significant hurricane to form in the Atlantic and make landfall was Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025. It is typical for major storms to develop by September 10, the peak of hurricane season. However, the Atlantic basin saw no hurricanes by this date in 2024 and 2025 as well.
AccuWeather hurricane experts suggest that a strengthening El Niño may be contributing to the current historic drought. El Niño conditions can create disruptive winds in the Atlantic, hindering the formation of hurricanes and tropical storms in the region while potentially boosting storm activity in the Pacific.
Despite the current lull, a low-pressure trough southeast of Bermuda has a minor but favorable chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center. The disturbance currently has a 0% chance of development in the next two days, but this rises to 40% over the next week.