Experts are predicting a quieter hurricane season this year, forecasting an average to below-average number of named storms in 2026. But this does not mean boaters do not have to be vigilant in their storm preparations.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1st and runs through the summer into November. Hurricane forecasters from Colorado State University predict a total of 13 named storms with six turning into hurricanes and two becoming major hurricanes. AccuWeather predicts between 11-16 named storms, with 4 to 7 becoming hurricanes.
Weather services and academic institutions alike expect a stronger El Niño weather event in the Pacific this summer, which could serve to dampen storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean. That said, if you live and boat in a high risk area such as the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic seaboard, you could still be severely impacted by a named storm.
Head over to our Hurricane Preparedness Guide to learn how to prep should a storm head your way: boatingmag.com/hurricane-preparedness-guide/.
For those keeping score at home, here’s the list of 21 names for Atlantic storms provided by the World Meteorological Organization:
Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.
