July’s Hurricane History – 2026
Bottom Line: There are six months to hurricane season but as you're aware, there's nothing even about the activity within them. Each of the previous three years we’d entered July with three named storms. This year we’ve had one weak tropical storm entering July. It’s been the most benign start to hurricane season in seven years - in line with the expectation for a below average hurricane season this year. Related, persistent Saharan dust is currently covering the tropics from the coast of Africa through the Gulf of America.
Here’s a look at where we stand historically entering July based on recorded activity. Record keeping for the Atlantic hurricane season officially began in 1851. By looking at how many storms have formed in each month, here's how far through hurricane season we typically are by July:
- 7.5% of all tropical storms have occurred prior to July
- 4% of all hurricanes have occurred prior to July
Based on typical activity, we have well over 90% of what will develop during hurricane season in front of us. July is the 4th most active month for tropical storm development and 5th most active for hurricane formation. So, what typically happens in July?
- We average .7 tropical storms & .3 hurricanes
For the entire month of July, we only average one named tropical system. The longer the dust flows across the Atlantic, the more benign hurricane season is likely to be. That’s a dynamic to watch throughout the month as we advance towards the peak months of hurricane season.