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Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino's might brings record slow storm season
By Extra Extra Editorial
Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 4 sources · Updated
The Atlantic hurricane season is tracking toward historically low activity levels, with meteorologists attributing the slowdown primarily to El Niño conditions. El Niño, characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, creates atmospheric conditions that suppress hurricane formation in the Atlantic basin. This phenomenon is expected to result in one of the quietest seasons on record, a dramatic shift from the hyperactive hurricane periods experienced in recent years.
Left-leaning outlets present the El Niño-driven hurricane suppression as a notable meteorological phenomenon while maintaining focus on seasonal preparedness and climate context. These sources emphasize the scientific mechanism behind the slowdown without downplaying the potential for remaining storms.
Center and independent sources frame the story as a straightforward weather science narrative, highlighting the El Niño effect as the primary explanatory factor for the record-low activity. These outlets adopt a factual, explanatory tone focused on the meteorological mechanics at play.
Key Differences
- Complete absence of right-leaning coverage contrasts with uniform reporting across left, center, and independent outlets on this meteorological story.
- All covered sources converge on El Niño as the primary explanatory mechanism, suggesting strong scientific consensus rather than ideological framing differences.
How this story is being covered
Extra Extra has grouped 4 reports on this story from 4 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 2 left-leaning and 2 center sources.
Its coverage-diversity score of 63 out of 100 means the story is being reported across multiple parts of the spectrum, though the volume leans toward one side. Notably, no right-leaning outlet in our index has picked the story up yet — a right-side blind spot that often signals a topic resonating more with progressive audiences.
On reliability, 4 of the 4 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.
The reports clustered here landed within about 2 hours of each other, suggesting a fast-moving, breaking story.
Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.
Outlets covering this story: ABC News, CBS News, Christian Science Monitor, PBS NewsHour.
Left(2)
ABC NewsBSep 12, 3:46 PM
Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino brings record slow season
No Atlantic hurricanes have formed this year and none are likely soon.
CBS NewsBSep 12, 3:26 PM
El Niño creates record-low Atlantic hurricane season
An El Niño pattern occurs every two to seven years.
Center(2)
Christian Science MonitorASep 12, 1:36 PM
Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino's might brings record slow storm season
On Saturday, the Atlantic set a record for the longest start to a season without a hurricane since the satellite era began. Experts say El Nino creates conditions that prevent storms from developing,
PBS NewsHourASep 12, 3:45 PM
Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Niño might bring record slow storm season
On Saturday, 2026 set a record for the longest a season has begun without a storm that has reached winds of 74 mph to qualify as a hurricane — at least in the satellite era, said Nick Novella, a meteo
Right(0)
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