The Atlantic Ocean just broke a 60-year record for the longest stretch without a hurricane. Here’s why.

September 15, 2026 / 11:44 AM EDT / CBS News

It has been an unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season so far, and activity just hit a record low.

No hurricanes have formed yet in the Atlantic basin since the 2026 season kicked off June 1. Although seasons often peak in September and October, it's rare to reach Sept. 15 without any hurricanes developing at all.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows this is now the longest stretch without an Atlantic hurricane since at least 1966, which the agency considers the start of modern storm tracking because it marked the onset of satellite surveillance.

On average, the first named storm of a season tends to form near its start in June, while the first hurricane usually develops in early or mid-August, based on climate data collected between 1991 and 2020, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm receives a name when its winds reach 39 mph. When winds rise to 74 mph, the storm becomes a hurricane.

While uncommon, it isn't unheard of for an Atlantic season to produce its first hurricane in September. In 2022, Hurricane Danielle became the year's first Atlantic hurricane when it…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/