Lower Expectations for the 2026 Storm Season

Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather and Climate Research Center has lowered its forecast for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. They now expect hurricane activity to be well below normal. El Niño conditions are expected to become stronger over the next few months and may be strong during the busiest part of hurricane season. A strong El Niño can create winds that make it harder for hurricanes to form and grow. Ocean temperatures in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic are also close to normal.

Forecasters believe there is a lower-than-normal chance of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline or in the Caribbean. However, it only takes one hurricane to cause serious damage to a community. Everyone living in hurricane-prone areas should prepare each year, no matter how many storms are predicted.