Atlantic Ocean has seen no hurricanes so far this season - all due to El Nino

Hurricane season has seen an unusually low number of storms forming over the Atlantic - and it's all because of El Nino.

Typically at this time of year, there would have been three hurricanes and eight tropical storms forming out to sea and churning towards the US coastline.

But so far there have just been five storms - Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard - and no hurricanes at all.

None of the storms have reached hurricane strength, making this season record-breaking, Sky News' weather producer Joanna Robinson says.

September is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November.

In the satellite era, the latest first Atlantic hurricane formed on 11 September, a record set in both 2002 and 2013.

The National Hurricane Centre says no storms are expected over the next seven days.

A quieter season was forecast due to the 'historic' El Nino event taking place in the Pacific.

In the Atlantic, El Nino increases wind shear - changes in wind speed and direction with height - which can disrupt thunderstorms before they develop into tropical storms or hurricanes.

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Dry, dusty air across the region is also limiting storm formation.

In contrast, El Nino has likely helped boost hurricane activity in the Eastern Pacific.

The basin has recorded 14 tropical storms, five of which became hurricanes, including three major hurricanes of category 3 or higher.

Last week, hurricanes Lowell, Karina and Marie were all active at the same time across the central and east Pacific.

Hurricane Lowell caused significant impacts across Hawaii's western islands.

(c) Sky News 2026: Atlantic Ocean has seen no hurricanes so far this season - all due to El Nino