Tropical Storm Fay forms in the Atlantic with little threat, as El Niño stifles the season

Tropical Storm Fay is well out over open water, and it is more notable as a sign of the season than as a risk to people or property.

Here's what to know

In an advisory cited by USA Today on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Fay was packing sustained winds of 45 mph and was positioned about 450 miles southwest of the Azores. It was moving north-northeast at about 5 mph and was roughly 2,000 miles from Washington, D.C.

Fay became the sixth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic season, but forecasters are not expecting it to become a major concern. 

In its forecast discussion, the hurricane center said, "Fay will likely become a remnant low on Tuesday and dissipate by the end of the week as it is expected to remain in unfavorable environmental conditions."

Meanwhile, forecasters are also monitoring Tropical Storm Odalys in the Pacific off the western coast of southern Mexico. The storm had 40 mph winds and was forecast to reach hurricane strength on Monday, though the hurricane center said it was not considered a danger to people or property.

More background

Part of the reason for the Atlantic's muted storm activity is El Niño, even though the pattern itself begins in the Pacific.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, El Niño's warmer Pacific waters can create strong winds high in the atmosphere that cross the United States and disrupt hurricane development in the Atlantic. Those conditions can make it more difficult for storms to organize and intensify.

In the Pacific, however, the same setup can support hurricane development instead. That difference helps explain the quieter Atlantic season and the strengthening of Odalys off the western coast of southern Mexico.

NOAA said the Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30, when 97% of tropical cyclone activity takes place.

What can be done?

Fay is not a storm that calls for immediate action. Its track and distance from land mean it is mainly one to monitor. Storms like this can still serve as a reminder to check emergency plans while conditions are calm.

That can mean making sure phone alerts are enabled, reviewing evacuation routes if you live in a coastal area, and refreshing a basic storm kit with water, medications, flashlights, and backup batteries. Quiet stretches in hurricane season are often the easiest time to prepare.

Atlantic and Pacific forecasts can diverge. A low-risk Atlantic storm does not mean tropical threats have disappeared elsewhere, especially when El Niño is influencing weather patterns in different ways across ocean basins.

Where can I learn more?

These stories cover El Niño, Atlantic storm conditions, and tropical threats in the Caribbean and beyond.

• NOAA said El Niño can keep the Atlantic quiet while Pacific hurricanes strengthen near Mexico.

• Forecasters tracking the Pacific rely on El Niño to explain shifting storm patterns.

• Near Puerto Rico, officials warned a potential tropical depression could bring hazardous seas and rain.

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