New hurricane season record as 'historic' El Niño leaves Atlantic eerily quiet

A new hurricane season record is likely to be set this week as a historic and still strengthening El Niño stifles tropical development in the Atlantic.

To date, no hurricanes have formed in the basin, despite this week marking the peak of the season on average - and there's no sign of development in the near future.

It means a new record is likely to be set for the latest date in the satellite era (1960s onward) without an Atlantic hurricane forming.

Currently, the record is 11 September, set in 2002 and 2013.

In an average season, there would have been eight named tropical storms and three hurricanes by this point.

This year, however, there have only been five tropical storms: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard.

With few indications that there will be any development in the next week, this will mean the longest stretch into in a season where no hurricane has formed in the modern satellite era.