The Atlantic remains remarkably quiet for this time of year, even as hurricane season moves through its climatological peak.
The National Hurricane Center reported no active Atlantic tropical cyclones over the weekend. Meteorologist Chris Martz also pointed out that the basin had reached an unusually quiet milestone.
Meteorologists attribute the lack of major storms to atmospheric conditions, particularly a strong El Niño suppressing tropical development, the Daily Beast reports. NOAA has also forecast below-normal hurricane activity for the Atlantic basin this year.
But according to the White House, one person deserves the credit. Its communications team responded to Martz’s post by crediting President Donald Trump with stopping hurricanes, a claim that quickly drew ridicule because Trump obviously had nothing to do with the lack of storms.
Martz, who describes himself as a politically incorrect meteorologist, posted Saturday that history had been made because no hurricanes had formed in the North Atlantic through Sept. 12.
“No hurricanes have formed in the North Atlantic Ocean so far this year. This is the FIRST time on record in the satellite era (since 1966) that we have made it to September 12th without at least one Atlantic hurricane yet in the calendar year,” Martz wrote.
He noted that the record extends even further back when looking beyond the satellite era. According to his analysis, it was also the first time since at least 1941 that the Atlantic had reached September 12 without producing a hurricane. He added that accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a measure of overall tropical cyclone activity, was also at its lowest level since 1941.
“If we get through September 21st without any hurricane formations, it will be the first time since 1914 (there were none that season),” he wrote. “Can we get there? Nine days to go. The NHC thinks we will notch at least seven more. The race is on.”
The pro-Trump account, Rapid Response 47, shared Martz’s post and added: “Thank you, President Trump!”
That prompted a wave of sarcasm online, with some users questioning why the administration appeared to be treating the unusual weather pattern as one of Trump’s accomplishments.
“Totally normal and not crazy at all,” one anti-Trump account noted on X.
“Even hurricanes want nothing to do with him,” someone else wrote.Another person took aim at the silliness of praising Trump for good weather, writing, “The incompetence of the White House knows no bounds.”One person added: “They really are nuts!”
The actual explanation for the quiet Atlantic is considerably less political.
A strong El Niño is disrupting the atmospheric conditions that tropical systems need to develop, according to reporting by PBS. NOAA says El Niño increases vertical wind shear over the Atlantic, making it harder for tropical storms to organize and strengthen.
The National Hurricane Center’s records show that as of Sept. 12, the Atlantic had produced five named storms but zero hurricanes and zero major hurricanes. Its accumulated cyclone energy stood at just 4.4, about 93% below the 1991-2020 average for that point in the season.
Meteorologists say the conditions are unusually hostile to developing storms.
“Their heads are cut off before they even have a chance,” University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy said, according to PBS.
The lack of hurricanes also does not mean the United States has escaped dangerous weather. Tropical Storm Edouard recently brought torrential rain and severe flooding to parts of Texas, prompting emergency rescues and evacuations. The storm underscored the distinction between a quiet Atlantic hurricane season and an absence of severe weather.
The Trump administration has also faced criticism over its handling of disaster response, including major changes to Federal Emergency Management Agency funding and operations. The administration has pursued changes to FEMA while continuing efforts to condition some federal disaster assistance on compliance with administration policies.
