NOAA Sees 8-14 Atlantic Storms in 2026 as El Nino Cuts Hurricane Risk
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 21
NOAA Sees 8-14 Atlantic Storms in 2026 as El Nino Cuts Hurricane Risk
16 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 21
NOAA said the 2026 Atlantic season has a 55% chance of being below average, with 8-14 named storms expected between June 1 and Nov. 30.
El Nino is forecast to emerge soon and persist through the season, a pattern NOAA says should suppress tropical activity in the Atlantic.
The agency projects 3-6 hurricanes, including 1-3 major storms of Category 3 strength or higher, versus a long-term average of 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
NOAA said its seasonal outlook gauges overall activity, not where storms will strike; 2025 still produced 13 named storms and three Category 5 hurricanes despite no U.S. hurricane landfalls.
With major budget cuts looming, can NOAA’s future hurricane forecasts be trusted to keep coastal communities safe?
As science debates AI versus physics for storm prediction, are budget cuts dismantling America's forecasting abilities?