A record-quiet hurricane season. It still runs to November 30

October 1, 2026

This season so far

As of October 1, the 2026 Atlantic season has produced eight named storms and not one hurricane. The strongest, Fay, peaked at about 70 mph and stayed at sea. Three tropical storms, Arthur, Bertha and Edouard, came ashore on the Texas and Louisiana coast earlier in the summer.

No Atlantic season had reached September 21 without a hurricane since 1914. Since records began in 1851, only two seasons, 1907 and 1914, finished with none at all.

The reason is El Niño. NOAA's August update called for a below-normal season and said El Niño was strengthening every month. It raises wind shear over the Atlantic, which tears storms apart before they can organize. For comparison, an average season brings 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

Why it isn't over

The season runs to November 30. Activity drops after the September peak, but it does not stop. Late-season storms tend to form closer to home, in the western Caribbean and the southern Gulf of Mexico. From there they can turn north and east toward Florida and the Southeast coast with less warning than a Cape Verde storm crossing the whole Atlantic.

A quiet year also breeds complacency. Lines go slack, canvas stays up, and the plan written in June never gets looked at again.

A late-season checklist

Know your plan, and your marina's. Many marinas require boats to be hauled or moved when a storm is forecast, and some limit who gets a slot on the hard. Ask now, not when a cone appears.

Check your insurance. Some policies help pay for a haul-out ahead of a named storm. Others carry a named-storm deductible. Read yours and note the claims number.

If you stay in the water: - Double up your dock lines and use longer ones, so the boat can rise with a surge without hanging on a cleat. - Add chafe protection where every line crosses a chock or rail. Chafed lines are a leading cause of boats breaking loose. - Fit extra fenders and fender boards. - Make sure bilge pumps and float switches work and batteries are charged.

If you haul out: - Lash the boat to ground anchors or tie-downs where the yard allows. - Strip it down: Bimini tops, canvas, sails and enclosures catch wind and can drag a boat off its stands. - Seal hatches and vents against driving rain, and keep cockpit drains clear.

Either way: - Remove electronics, cushions, dinghies and anything loose. - Take the registration, insurance papers and photos of the boat with you. - Photograph the boat inside and out before the storm. It makes a claim far easier.

After a storm, don't go aboard until it is safe. Watch for fuel and electrical hazards, and call your insurer before you start any salvage.

Keep the plan current

The NHC posts outlooks several times a day at hurricanes.gov. Check it before every trip through November. With luck, 2026 becomes only the third season on record without a hurricane. It is still worth having the lines and the plan ready.

Sources

nhc.noaa.gov — NHC Atlantic outlook 1 Oct 2026 8am EDT: no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic
noaa.gov — NOAA May 2026 outlook: 8-14 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, 1-3 major; El Nino expected; season 1 Jun to 30 Nov
noaa.gov — NOAA 6 Aug 2026 update: 7-13 named storms, 2-6 hurricanes, 0-2 major; 75% chance below normal; El Nino strengthening; typical season 14/7/3
en.wikipedia.org — Storm list to date (Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna), zero hurricanes, Gulf landfalls of Arthur, Bertha and Edouard as tropical storms
wcax.com — First season without a hurricane by 21 Sep since 1914; only 1907 and 1914 had none all season; late-season storms tend to form in the western Caribbean and southern Gulf
boatus.com — BoatUS hurricane prep resources: location, storage ashore, lines and chafe protection, marina plans, worksheet