So far, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be the quietest on record dating back to 1950, according to a key measurement used by the Storm Station.
The metric is called Accumulated Cyclone Energy, or ACE. Rather than simply counting named storms, it factors in how strong each storm was and how long it lasted. Adding these numbers up over the course of the season yields a single number that reflects total tropical activity.
Through mid-September, the 2026 season has an ACE of 4.4. That ranks as the lowest ACE through mid-September dating back to 1950. It's not even close to normal, either, with the average near 72 by this point in the season.
This is textbook behavior for El Niño, which the Storm Station has been tracking extensively for months. With El Niño continuing to strengthen into winter, its suppressing effect on hurricane season is far from over.
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