From The New York Times:
Often, at this time of the year, it isn’t uncommon to see two, three or even four named storms occurring simultaneously. But on Wednesday there were no current storms, and there hasn’t been one since Hurricane Ernesto formed, beginning as a tropical storm, on Aug. 12. A quiet spell this significant has not been seen during this part of the season since 1968, according to Phil Klotzbach, a researcher of hurricane activity at Colorado State University.
Dr. Klotzbach — whose team predicted in April that there would be 23 named storms this year — joked that when the season ends in November, he may be eating crow for dinner. He won’t be alone at the table: More than two dozen private, academic and government metrological institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also predicted a hyperactive season.