Colorado State Cuts 2026 Atlantic Forecast to 9 Storms as El Niño Halves Gulf Landfall Risk
Updated
Updated · FOX 26 Houston · Jul 8
Colorado State Cuts 2026 Atlantic Forecast to 9 Storms as El Niño Halves Gulf Landfall Risk
3 articles · Updated · FOX 26 Houston · Jul 8
Summary
Colorado State University on Wednesday revised the 2026 Atlantic season to 9 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, calling for a well below-normal season.
The downgrade from June's 11 storms and 5 hurricanes was driven by an intensifying El Niño, which forecasters said should boost tropical Atlantic vertical wind shear and suppress storm development.
Gulf Coast hurricane landfall odds were cut to 10% from 20% for the stretch from Brownsville, Texas, to the Florida Panhandle.
Only 1 named storm has formed so far—Tropical Storm Arthur, which affected the Texas coast in June—and the National Hurricane Center expects no Atlantic tropical activity for at least the next week.