Story perspectives

Tropical Depression Six Forms Southwest of Azores

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 10:38 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression Six formed southwest of the Azores Saturday.
Forecasters expect it to become Tropical Storm Fay before weakening to a remnant low.
No watches or warnings are issued because the system threatens no U.S. land areas.
El Niño helped produce a record-quiet Atlantic season with five named storms and no hurricanes.
Atlantic ACE is 4.4, about 94% below normal, the latest first hurricane on record.

History

Historical Context

The 1972 Atlantic hurricane season, marked by a strong El Niño, produced only two hurricanes and an accumulated cyclone energy of 36 ACE, the lowest since 1962. That rare quiet pattern mirrors today’s Tropical Depression Six, which formed near the Azores without threatening the United States, underscoring how El Niño can suppress Atlantic storm activity.

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Story summary

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression Six formed southwest of the Azores Saturday.
Forecasters expect it to become Tropical Storm Fay before weakening to a remnant low.
No watches or warnings are issued because the system threatens no U.S. land areas.
El Niño helped produce a record-quiet Atlantic season with five named storms and no hurricanes.
Atlantic ACE is 4.4, about 94% below normal, the latest first hurricane on record.

1 / 2