Climate
Atlantic Hurricane Season Peaks, but Where Are the Storms?
The Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quiet with zero hurricanes recorded so far, a rarity for late in the year attributed to a strong El Niño phenomenon. KNMI scientist Nadia Bloemendaal explains that while El Niño suppresses storm formation in the Atlantic through descending air currents and wind shear, it simultaneously fuels intense activity in the Pacific Ocean, where three hurricanes recently appeared simultaneously. Tropical storm Polo rapidly intensified into a major hurricane off Mexico’s coast, marking the third such event this year. Although Atlantic sea surface temperatures remain relatively warm, they are not yet as high as in 2023, which previously defied expectations. The season continues until November 30, and experts remain vigilant despite the current calm.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's