Tropical Storm Edouard has officially made landfall in southwest Louisiana near Johnson Bayou. The storm is expected to bring 50 to 60 mph wind gusts and 8 to 10 inches of rainfall to some areas. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross is live with the latest.
THE TAKEAWAY:
- The Atlantic has only produced five named storms and not a single one has strengthened into a hurricane for the 2026 hurricane season.
- The latest first hurricanes in the Atlantic occurred between Sept. 2 and Sept. 11.
- History shows late-starting seasons can still produce intense activity in a compressed window.
An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
While Nov. 30 marks the official end of hurricane season, this year is tracking to be a quiet season due to hostile conditions produced by the inhibitive El Niño climate pattern taking hold across the Pacific and thwarting activity in the Atlantic basin.
STRENGTHENING EL NIÑO COULD SHAKE UP FALL WEATHER ACROSS THE US – HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT
So far, the Atlantic has only produced five named storms—Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard—and not a single one has strengthened into a hurricane.
El Niño impact on hurricane season.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
El Niño is typically associated with reduced tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin and increased storm activity in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins.
Controversially, a La Niña weather pattern brings more activity to the Atlantic basin.
BREWING SUPER EL NIÑO EXPECTED TO BE STRONGEST ANYONE ALIVE ON THE PLANET HAS EVER EXPERIENCED
This year, we are not only in an El Niño weather pattern, but forecasts indicate a “super El Niño,” potentially one of the strongest events on record.
Looking back to the beginning of the satellite era in 1966, the latest first hurricanes in the Atlantic occurred between Sept. 2 and Sept. 11.
Latest first hurricanes in the Atlantic
(FOX Weather)
WHAT ARE EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA CLIMATE PATTERNS?
So, how unusual is this season? Let’s look back at five of the latest first Atlantic hurricanes on record and how overall storm counts, El Niño influences, and peak intensities compare.
Both Hurricane Humberto (2013) and Hurricane Gustav (2002) reached hurricane status on the exact same calendar date: September 11.
IN SPACE – SEPTEMBER 11: In this handout satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), hurricane Humberto (R) forms as a category one on September 11, 2013 in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. Humberto is the first hurricane of the 2013 season.
(Photo by NOAA/NASA GOES Project via Getty Images / Getty Images)
However, their underlying environments differed significantly. Gustav developed during an El Niño pattern, in a season that produced two major hurricanes among four hurricanes, while Humberto formed during a neutral pattern that produced two hurricanes but no majors.
A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher.
Despite these contrasting structural outcomes, both the 2013 and 2002 Atlantic seasons recorded a nearly identical total number of tropical systems, with 15 and 14 total systems, respectively.
Hurricane Diana (1984) and Hurricane Erin (2001) hold the distinction of forming just one day apart, with Diana developing on Sept. 10 and Erin on Sept. 9.
LATEST EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS FROM HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NOCROSS
Both storms formed during a neutral year. Despite their late starts, the seasons ultimately produced significant activity: 1984 recorded five hurricanes, including one major hurricane, while 2001 produced nine hurricanes, four of which became major hurricanes.
Atlantic latest first hurricanes tracking map.
(FOX Weather)
Additionally, Hurricane Arlene (1967) formed on Sept. 2 during another neutral year, producing a total of six hurricanes, with one being major.
Ultimately, these September milestones demonstrate that a sluggish start to the Atlantic hurricane season rarely dictates how the rest of the year will unfold.
Whether steered by an El Niño pattern or neutral conditions, a delayed first hurricane is often followed by a compressed, high-stakes window of activity where the basin rapidly makes up for lost time.
