2026 Atlantic hurricane season sets record for latest first hurricane formation, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/meteorology/2026-atlantic-hurricane-season-sets-record-for-latest-first-hurricane-formation/ar-AA2c5Wmn?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
13-09-2026
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has officially broken the satellite-era record for the latest formation of the season’s first hurricane. Passing September 11 without a single storm reaching hurricane strength (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) eclipses the previous modern records set on September 11 in both 2002 (Hurricane Gustav) and 2013 (Hurricane Humberto).Key Highlights of the Report
- Record-Breaking Delay: Through mid-September, five tropical storms have formedArthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, and Edouard. While several brought localized flooding and heavy rainfall to coastal areas, none managed to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane or higher before dissipating or weakening.
- Primary Atmospheric Cause: Meteorologists attribute this unusual lull primarily to exceptionally high vertical wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and the tropical Atlantic Main Development Region, which repeatedly tore budding systems apart. In July, wind shear across the Caribbean reached some of the highest levels observed since satellite monitoring began in 1979.
- The Role of El Niño: A strengthening El Niño event in the equatorial Pacific has been the dominant driver of the hostile upper-level wind patterns over the Atlantic basin, countering the potential fueling effects of above-average sea surface temperatures.
- Seasonal Context: The absence of early-season hurricanes aligns with seasonal outlooks released earlier in the year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU), both of which projected a suppressed, below-average season.