No Hurricanes Yet as El Niño Keeps Atlantic Quiet
Listen to the story
The Atlantic hurricane season has reached its climatological peak, the busiest time of year for storms. However, no hurricanes have formed so far this season.
Meteorologists say a strong El Niño weather pattern is the main reason for the unusually quiet Atlantic. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that affects ocean temperatures in the Pacific.
This year's El Niño has been described as 'historic', meaning it is one of the strongest ever recorded. Its effects can be felt across the world, including in the Atlantic.
El Niño tends to create stronger high-level winds over the Atlantic. These winds can prevent storm systems from developing into full hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season usually runs from June to November, with activity typically peaking in September. In a normal year, several hurricanes would already have formed by now.
This quiet period is considered unusual and has set a kind of record for the season. Experts continue to monitor conditions closely, as the season is not yet over.
It remains possible that hurricanes could still form before the season ends in November, although El Niño's influence may continue to limit storm activity.
Vocabulary10 words
- Atlantic
- the large ocean between America and Europe
- climatological
- related to long-term weather patterns
- hurricanes
- very strong, dangerous storms with fast winds
- El Niño
- a natural weather pattern that changes ocean temperatures
- meteorologists
- scientists who study weather
- historic
- important because it has never happened like this before
- developing
- growing or becoming stronger
- record
- the most unusual or extreme result ever measured
- monitor
- to watch something carefully over time
- influence
- the power to affect or change something
Quiz
Answer key
1. No hurricanes have formed at its peak 2. A strong El Niño 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Atlantic hurricane season has reached its _____ peak.
However, no _____ have formed so far this season.
Meteorologists say a strong _____ weather pattern is the main reason.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that affects ocean _____ in the Pacific.
This year's El Niño has been described as '_____.'
El Niño tends to create stronger high-level _____ over the Atlantic.
These winds can prevent storm systems from _____ into full hurricanes.
Activity typically peaks in _____.
This quiet period is considered unusual and has set a kind of _____.
Experts continue to _____ conditions closely.
More Nature stories
Next story · Medium
NFL Game in Australia to Stream on Netflix