A strong El Niño is the major reason for the slowdown in storms this season, which ends Nov. 30, forecasters said.
The climate pattern develops in the Pacific but can influence weather patterns around the globe. In the Atlantic, El Niño typically increases vertical wind shear, making it more difficult for tropical systems to organize and strengthen.
By August, forecasters began lowering their predictions for the 2026 hurricane season.
As of Aug. 19, the AccuWeather team now expects eight to 11 named storms, three to four hurricanes and one to two major hurricanes this year.
Their original March forecast called for 11 to 16 named storms. The private forecasting service continues to expect three to five storms to have a direct impact on the United States.