Full Breakdown

Tropical Storm Fay Forms in the North Atlantic, Poses No Threat to the United States

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:45 PM UTC · How we work

Core Event: Formation and Immediate Forecast

Early Sunday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami classified a system as Tropical Storm Fay. At the time of the 5 a.m. advisory the storm was about 450 mi (730 km) southwest of the Azores, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb. It was moving north-northeast at roughly 5 mph and was expected to strengthen slightly before weakening into a remnant low early next week. No coastal watches or warnings were issued for any land area.

Fay is the sixth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which has produced only six tropical storms and no hurricanes so far—an unusually quiet pattern. Meteorologists attribute the suppression to a strong El Niño that has increased wind shear and dry air across the Atlantic. The season’s statistical peak typically occurs in early September, and the average date for the sixth named storm falls in late August; both benchmarks have been missed this year.

Winds: 45 mph sustained; tropical-storm-force winds extended 45 mi from the center.

Movement: north-northeast at ~5 mph; forecast turn to the southwest expected on Monday.

Seasonal context: six tropical storms, zero hurricanes; record quietness linked to El Niño.

The NHC said there are no coastal watches or warnings and that the system is not expected to bring impacts to land at this time.

Fay’s development highlights the rarity of a hurricane-free Atlantic season. If the season ends without a hurricane, it would be only the third such occurrence since satellite monitoring began in the mid-1960s.

The projected loop-back track, turning southwest after a brief north-northeast drift, illustrates the unusual steering patterns that have characterized a season dominated by high shear and dry air.

“This depression may strengthen into a tropical storm and slowly move northeastward before changing direction to the southwest and heading away from the Azores into early next week,” — AccuWeather Meteorologist Alexander Duffus

“If it slows down over the northern Gulf, a tropical depression or storm could develop near the Gulf Coast from late this week into this weekend,” — AccuWeather

“If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare,” — Jamie Rhome, center deputy director

“Tropical waves are clusters of showers and thunderstorms that act as the seedlings for many tropical storms throughout the Atlantic season,” — Alex DaSilva, accuweather hurricane expert