El Niño Delays Atlantic Hurricanes to Record-Late Start

El Niño’s strengthening warm waters in the Pacific are depressing Atlantic hurricane activity, producing a record-late start with five named storms and no hurricanes through Sept. 15. NOAA still expects below-average Atlantic activity (7–13 named storms, 0–2 major hurricanes, 2–6 hurricanes) while the Pacific season remains robust, with 14 named storms and four hurricanes so far, including major storms Genevieve and Karina and a Cat 5 peak for Lowell. The anomaly has reached about 2°C, marking a very strong El Niño, a pattern historically linked to active Pacific storms and subdued Atlantic activity.