Although the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has already produced five named storms, we are still waiting for the seasonâs first hurricane. That delay is now approaching record territory.
The most recent system was Tropical Storm Edouard, which made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana. While Edouard never intensified into a hurricane, it still packed a punch, dumping more than a foot of rain in some locations and causing flooding across parts of the region.
When do we typically see our first hurricane in the Atlantic?
According to NOAA and the National Hurricane Center, the Atlantic Basin would normally have already produced both its first hurricane and its first major hurricane by this point in the season.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Typically, the first named storm develops in June, followed by the seasonâs first hurricane in August and major hurricane Sept. 1. This year, however, has been anything but typical.
On average, the first Atlantic hurricane of the season typically forms in July or August. Waiting until September for the seasonâs first hurricane is rare, having happened only seven times over the past 60 years.
The most recent example occurred in 2022, when the Atlantic failed to produce a single tropical storm during the month of August.
For perspective, the latest arrival of a seasonâs first hurricane in the last 60 years was Sept. 11, a milestone reached in both 2002 and 2013. If the season makes it past Sept. 11 without a hurricane forming, 2026 could climb to first on the record for the latest first hurricane in Atlantic Basin in the last 60 years.
Last year marked the first time since 2015 that the U.S. saw no hurricane landfalls. As we move deeper into the heart of hurricane season, another notable record could be possible. If no hurricanes make landfall in the U.S. this year, it would mark the first back-to-back seasons without a U.S. hurricane landfall since 2009 and 2010.
The climatological peak of hurricane season arrives in September, so there is still plenty of time for activity to increase. The KSAT Weather Authority will continue monitoring the tropics and keeping you updated on any developments. Be sure to check in for the latest forecasts throughout the season.
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