The world’s oceans are currently warmer than they have ever been. Normally, high water temperatures provide plenty of energy for tropical cyclones. Yet, in the Atlantic of all places, conditions remain surprisingly calm.

Although the hurricane season is currently reaching its peak, not a single hurricane has formed this year. Normally, there would already be around four by this time. One major reason for this is El Niño.

This climate phenomenon is causing the tropical Pacific to heat up significantly and is altering air currents around the globe. Over the Atlantic, however, stronger upper-level winds are hindering the formation of hurricanes.

However, the unusually warm oceans are also having an impact elsewhere. They release a great deal of heat into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the high temperatures around the globe.

This is particularly evident when looking at August: with an average temperature of just under 17°C, it was the warmest August on record worldwide. At the same time, the average ocean water temperature has been at record levels since the start of the summer, at around 21°C.

El Niño and long-term global warming are currently coinciding. This shows that record-high ocean temperatures do not automatically lead to more hurricanes. However, they do influence the atmosphere and can alter weather patterns around the globe.