Tropical Storm Hanna Forms In Atlantic: What This Means For FL

The eighth named storm of the 2026 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Hanna, formed Monday morning in the Atlantic, and isn’t a threat to land, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Fay, which formed as a tropical storm just over a week ago, continues to weaken over Atlantic waters.

Hanna, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and some higher gusts, was about 870 miles east-northeast of Bermuda around 11 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said.

The tropical system is moving east at 17 mph and is expected to continue east-southeast over the next few days, meteorologists said.

“Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days,” NHC said.

There are no coastal warnings or watches in effect on Monday and Hanna’s estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb.

Fay, also far from land, is about 1,265 west-southwest of the Azores with maximum sustained winds of about 35 mph and some higher gusts, the NHC said.

The system is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday as it moves southwest about 9 mph, forecasters said.

It’s been an unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season, which has set records for not having seen a named hurricane yet this year.

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.

Earlier in August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also lowered its seasonal forecast, reducing its expectations to seven to 13 named storms, two to six hurricanes and zero to two major hurricanes. The agency also increased the probability of a below-normal season from 55 percent in its May outlook to 75 percent.

See Also:

• Atlantic Hurricane Season Could Make History After Remarkably Quiet Start
• 5 Things To Know About The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
• Forecasters Continue To Lower Hurricane Season Predictions As Peak Season Nears
• NOAA Lowers 2026 Hurricane Forecast As Peak Season Nears
• 'Super El Niño' Could Form In Atlantic: What It Means For FL Hurricane Season