El Niño is the reason why this hurricane season has been so quiet.

Most of the storms that have formed in the Atlantic basin this season have fizzled-out.

That’s because of what’s going on in the Pacific says Florida-based meteorologist, Athena Masson.

She says a strong El Nino effect means lower sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and high wind sheer, which clips the tops off of forming storms.

“Just think about those high winds in the high levels of the atmosphere. Thunderstorms, hurricanes….want minimal wind sheer. They really just want to grow as high as they can. If we have high winds, it tears these storms apart.”

“So that’s really why we’re seeing a decrease in activity.”

Conversely, El Niño means a heavier than usual cyclone season in the Pacific basin.