From a recent Reuters article, two major factors have contributed to an unusually mild hurricane season this year:

• El Nino conditions have created significant wind sheer in the Atlantic.  This wind sheer can be devastating to hurricane development as winds high over the Atlantic effectively decapitate a storm heading towards the continent.
• Atlantic ocean temperatures have dropped 2 degrees F this year which reduces the overall energy available for use by a developing storm.

These factors have conspired to hold this year’s season to only two named hurricanes, which, if the season ended today, would be the lowest since 1982.  A good year for insurers and policyholders but obviously not a great year for field adjusters.