El Niño, of all things, is likely preventing hurricanes
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, running from June 1 to November 30, is still waiting for its first hurricane of the year.
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Tropical Storm Dolly is currently active, but according to forecasts, Dolly is not expected to develop into a hurricane.
On statistical average, there are 7 hurricanes per year, about 3 of which are classified as major hurricanes.
According to an update from NOAA, the current hurricane season is expected to be below average. The main reason cited is the developing El Niño, which is expected to strengthen further as the year progresses. El Niño causes increased wind shear over the tropical North Atlantic, which is not conducive to the development of tropical cyclones.
The good news, then, is that the bogeyman El Niño is currently preventing deadly and very costly weather events caused by hurricanes in the Caribbean, the Gulf of America, and the US East Coast.
On statistical average, there are 7 hurricanes per year, about 3 of which are classified as major hurricanes.
According to an update from NOAA, the current hurricane season is expected to be below average. The main reason cited is the developing El Niño, which is expected to strengthen further as the year progresses. El Niño causes increased wind shear over the tropical North Atlantic, which is not conducive to the development of tropical cyclones.
The good news, then, is that the bogeyman El Niño is currently preventing deadly and very costly weather events caused by hurricanes in the Caribbean, the Gulf of America, and the US East Coast.