The Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Monday, and as predicted, we stayed below normal with 11 named storms.

There were four hurricanes (Danny, Fred, Joaquin and Kate), two of which – Danny and Joaquin – became major hurricanes. Danny was only a major hurricane for a few hours before quickly weakening.  No doubt, Joaquin was the most damaging and strongest hurricane of the season, as it hit the Bahamas at Category 4 intensity. Joaquin is the only known Category 4 hurricane to hit the Bahamas in October.

Although no hurricanes made landfall in the United States this year, two tropical storms – Ana and Bill – struck the northeastern coast of South Carolina and Texas, respectively. Ana caused minor wind damage, beach erosion and one direct death in North Carolina, and Bill produced heavy rain and flooding while it moved across eastern Texas and Oklahoma.

A strong El Niño is the leading factor influencing the Atlantic this season, along with below normal sea-surface temperatures over most of the open Atlantic waters.

The only threat to Florida was Tropical Storm Erika, which dissipated over Cuba and was also poorly organized due to wind shear and dry air.

We have now gone 10 years without any hurricane hitting Florida and without any major hurricanes hitting the United States.

The 2015 season is the third below-normal season in a row, with 2014 having just eight named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. The 2013 season had 14 named storms, but only two hurricanes and no major hurricanes.