2026 Atlantic hurricane season will see below average tropical activity, NOAA says

This year’s Atlantic hurricane season will feature below-average tropical activity, according to a weather report National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noa).

The agency announced on Thursday that the decrease in storm activity is driven by the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to appear soon and continue throughout the season.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and continues until November 30.

There is currently a 55% chance that this year’s season will be below average, according to NOAA, with eight to 14 named, tropical and stronger storms expected for the season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said three to six hurricanes are possible, of which one to three could be major storms of Category 3 strength or stronger.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane forecast predicts overall seasonal activity, although activity levels can vary throughout the six-month season. It does not predict how many storms will make landfall or the specific locations where landfall might occur.

The average Atlantic hurricane season contains 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes, according to NOAA.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season brought 13 named storms, just below the long-term seasonal average.

Although the United States did not experience any hurricanes last year for the first time in a decade, the season proved to have major consequences, producing three Category 5 hurricanes, including Melissa, which devastated Jamaica.

SEE ALSO: National Hurricane Center updates forecast products ahead of 2026 season

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