The Peak of Hurricane Season is here, But It Is Eerily Quiet 

September 18, 2025 /

By Keeley Rissman 

Hurricane season has been historically disastrous for Floridians, and this season was predicted to be above normal for the Atlantic coasts. A combination of factors plaguing our waters provide perfect conditions for storms to brew, including warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures and West-African monsoon patterns. So why has this season been dreadfully boring? We have not had a single hurricane day. Should we mourn the lack of storms or pray that there is not something bigger coming for Florida? 

Despite record breaking heat, some environmental factors are working in our favor this season. Erin remains the only hurricane so far this season, behind the typical pace of three forming by early September. The Atlantic has been covered in dry, stable air this month, which is one of the reasons why storms have struggled to develop. This phenomenon has been a roadblock for potential storms, specifically for the latest undeveloped systems. Additionally, wind shear, or changes in wind speed and direction can disform storms. This season, Florida has been spared largely thanks to favorable wind directions, which pushed storms like Erin and Fernand away from Florida’s coast. 

It is not all quiet, however. Last week, tropical storm Gabrielle formed from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa. The storm is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday, which would make it the second hurricane of the season. Although Gabrielle is expected to stay away from Florida and the U.S., indirect impacts of dangerous rip currents and rough surf are possible. Could this be a warning that something bigger is coming to Florida? 

Sources: 

Dauphin, Lauren. n.d. NASA Earth Observatory Image of Hurricane Ian,. https://www.usf.edu/marine-science/news/2025/study-finds-pressure-point-in-the-gulf-could-drive-hurricane-strength.aspx. 

“Prediction Remains on Track for Above-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season.” 2025. Noaa.gov. August 7, 2025. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/prediction-remains-on-track-for-above-normal-atlantic-hurricane-season. 

Dolce, Chris. 2025. “Hurricane Season’s Peak Has Arrived, but the Atlantic Has Gone Silent.” CNN. September 9, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/09/weather/hurricane-season-peak-atlantic-quiet-climate. 

McCloud, Cheryl. 2025. “Tropical Storm Gabrielle Expected to Strengthen into Category 2 Hurricane. Florida Impacts?” USA TODAY. The Daytona Beach News-Journal. September 19, 2025. https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/hurricane/2025/09/19/tropical-storm-gabrielle-expected-strengthen-category-2-hurricane-florida-impacts-tracker/86231097007/.