Thanks to the workings of an as-yet-to-form El Niño, the Atlantic basin is expected to see a quieter-than-normal hurricane season.
NOAA is calling for 8 to 14 storms to form in 2026
Nicole Mortillaro · CBC News
· Posted: May 21, 2026 12:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Sunlight fades on Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean Sea in October 2025. (NOAA)
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) is calling for a below-average Atlantic hurricane season this year.
It is forecasting between eight and 14 named storms, with three to six of them becoming hurricanes. Of those, one to three are forecast to develop into major hurricanes (from Category 3 to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale).
The 30-year average from 1991-2020 is 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
During a media event Thursday detailing the forecast, NOAA director Ken Graham stressed that hurricanes are dangerous, no matter how many they forecast.
“Don’t let the words ‘below average’ change the way you prepare.”
The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) released its forecast Thursday,
This story was brought to Nouzie by RSS. The original post can be found on https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/2026-atlantic-hurricane-forecast-9.7206140?cmp=rss
