Where are this year's hurricanes? 'Remarkable' dry period according to NOAA

Until this week, not a single named storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in nearly three weeks, even though it’s the peak of hurricane season.

“Where the heck are the Atlantic #hurricanes?” Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University, wrote recently on X.

Many are wondering the same thing.

Tropical Storm Fernand was the last named storm to form this season. It was short-lived, forming on Aug. 23 and dissipating on Aug. 28 while remaining over open water.

This is only the second time that no named storms have formed during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season since modern record-keeping began in 1950.

Up to 80% of hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs in August and September, but this year has seen only six named storms.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. 

Three factors are to blame, or cheer.

One, a strong vertical wind shear, which refers to a change in wind speed or direction with altitude. It has increased thanks to a cyclonic circulation in the mid-upper troposphere, which is the lowest region of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Two, persistent dry and stable air across the tropical Atlantic.

And three, a drop in the amount of rainfall in West Africa, where tropical waves form during the hurricane season.

The lack of storms prompted experts at Colorado State University to publish an explanatory report earlier this month.

“There has been considerable discussion amongst meteorologists, the media and the general public about the recent quiet period for Atlantic hurricane activity,” the report stated, which called it “quite remarkable.”

Forecasters say we could still see a busy season in the second half of September and the first part of October.

This week, Tropical Storm Gabrielle got organized with 50-mph winds hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean.  It’s expected to turn away from the region and remain over open water, possibly as a powerful hurricane.

Another cluster of storms is swirling behind it, but so far, it only has a 20% chance of formation.



(AP Photo Mike Carlson)