Mild hurricane season comes to an end

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The quiet 2014 hurricane season has officially come to an end. Only eight named tropical storms formed this season.

Six storms strengthened into hurricanes and two of these were major hurricanes with winds over 110 mph. The numbers are near or below the seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

"A combination of atmospheric conditions acted to suppress the Atlantic hurricane season, including very strong vertical wind shear, combined with increased atmospheric stability, stronger sinking motion and drier air across the tropical Atlantic," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The only tropical cyclone to affect the U.S. was the first storm of the season. Hurricane Arthur grazed the eastern seaboard in early July.