September 10th is a big day on the Atlantic hurricane calendar. It’s the climatological peak of hurricane season, meaning this is typically the time of year when we see the most tropical activity, but 2026 has been anything but typical.
So far, the Atlantic has produced the lowest amount of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) through September 10 of any season since 1950. That’s a pretty incredible stat when you stop and think about it. At the very peak of hurricane season, the Atlantic is having its quietest start to a season in terms of ACE in at least 75 years.
ACE is basically a way of measuring how much energy tropical storms and hurricanes have produced over the course of a season. It doesn’t just count the number of storms. It also considers how strong they are and how long they last.
What makes it even more interesting is the timing. We’ve reached the traditional peak of hurricane season, when conditions are usually becoming more favorable for tropical systems, with September being the time we get busy.
That doesn’t mean hurricane season is over, The Atlantic can still produce plenty of activity in the weeks ahead, and some of the season’s most memorable storms have developed later in the season.
For now, 2026 is making history for just how little tropical cyclone energy the Atlantic has produced.
It’s definitely something worth watching as we head into the rest of the month. Hurricane season officially ends November 30th.
