Strengthening El Niño Suppressing Tropical Development, Officially Puts Atlantic Hurricane Season Behind Schedule
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is lagging behind its typical schedule, with only one named storm, Arthur, forming in June. Meteorologists attribute the slowdown to a strengthening El Niño that is suppressing tropical development. Forecasts from NOAA and Colorado State University suggest a range of possible activity for the remainder of the season, while short‑term outlooks remain quiet.
- ▪Arthur was the sole named storm in June, marking a delayed start to the season.
- ▪A strengthening El Niño is identified as the primary factor inhibiting tropical cyclone formation.
- ▪NOAA projects 8‑14 named storms, 3‑6 hurricanes, and 1‑3 major hurricanes, whereas Colorado State University forecasts 11 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes.
- ▪The National Hurricane Center predicts no tropical development in the Atlantic for the next seven days.
- ▪The Climate Prediction Center assigns an 80% chance of below‑average precipitation in the Caribbean’s Main Development Region.
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US Strengthening El Niño Suppressing Tropical Development, Officially Puts Atlantic Hurricane Season Behind Schedule (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images) Andrew Powell Sports Reporter July 02, 2026 1:14 AM ET July 02, 2026 1:14 AM ET Andrew Powell Sports Reporter Font Size: const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => { const adDivToHide = document.querySelector("#dailycaller_incontent_1"); if (adDivToHide && dc_noads_page) { adDivToHide.classList.add("hide-premium", "hide-free"); observer.disconnect(); console.log("Ad div found and hidden"); } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); The first month of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has come to an end, and so far, there’s only been the development of one tropical storm.
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