Interesting potential partial reason from Eric Webb (@webberweather) for the less than expected hurricane activity so far this summer as in a warming climate, the upper troposphere warms faster...

... than the lower troposphere. This then increases atmospheric stability and decreases thunderstorm frequency. I would also add that the waves having been coming off Africa too far north lately into cooler than expected waters there. However, we have still had 3 hurricanes already, including a Cat 5, and there will still be more hurricanes coming, including the one I posted about earlier this morning that may form by the end of next week with the potential to become a major hurricane!