The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season was destructive, deadly, and extraordinarily active, with a record-tying number of major hurricanes. The season saw 19 systems, 19 named storms, 13 hurricanes, and 7 that became major hurricanes. The season also saw a record-breaking number of named storms make landfall in the contiguous United States, 13, wreaking havoc on these areas. The season officially began on June 1 and finished on November 30. Nonetheless, tropical cyclogenesis may occur at any time of year, as seen by the early creation of Tropical Storms Arthur, Bertha, and Cristobal on May 6, 12, and 21, respectively, making this the third year in a row that a storm formed outside of the recognised season.
Three storms of this season became Category 5 hurricanes, the highest ranking on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS), and two of them made catastrophic landfalls in the state of Florida, making the season considered as one of the worst season for Florida. Hurricane Isaias, the first Category 5 hurricane and also the strongest storm of the season, lasting for about 42 hours on the coast of Florida, making it one of the deadliest hurricane in the United States history. The 18th named storm and the second strongest storm of the season, Hurricane Sally, becoming the strongest and the second hurricane since 2018's Hurricane Michael to made a historic impact in the Florida Panhandle. With a Category 5, two Category 4s, and a Category 3 hurricanes, the Southern United States in general have to suffer the worst hurricane season since the 2005 and 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical cyclones during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season caused roughly 171.835 billion dollars (2026 USD) in damage and 5,671 fatalities have reported. In Florida alone, 3,219 human lives was taken by landfalling storms. Hurricanes in the 2026 hurricane season are listed as one of the worst natural disasters by the World Meteorological Organization, and National Hurricane Center.
Seasonal forecasts[]
| Source | Date | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes | |
| Average (1991–2020) | 14.4 | 7.2 | 3.2 | ||
| Record high activity | 30 | 15 | 7 | ||
| Record low activity | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||
| TSR | December 12, 2025 | 18 | 12 | 6 | |
| CSU | December 13, 2025 | 17 | 10 | 4 | |
| CSU | April 8, 2026 | 18 | 13 | 5 | |
| TWC | April 11, 2026 | 16 | 12 | 5 | |
| PSU | April 17, 2026 | 16-19 | N/A | 4 | |
| CSU | April 23, 2026 | 17 | 12 | 3 | |
| TSR | April 25, 2026 | 19 | 11 | 7 | |
| TWC | May 2, 2026 | 18 | 10 | 6 | |
| UKMO | May 14, 2026 | 16 | 9 | 3 | |
| UA | May 21, 2026 | 19 | 11 | 5 | |
| NOAA | May 30, 2026 | 13-20 | 8-14 | 3-8 | |
| TSR | June 12, 2026 | 20 | 14 | 6 | |
| NSCU | June 20, 2026 | 16 | 8 | 4 | |
| CSU | July 12, 2026 | 19 | 12 | 3 | |
| UA | July 19, 2026 | 17 | 11 | 4 | |
| NOAA | August 1, 2026 | 16-22 | 8-16 | N/A | |
| TSR | August 3, 2026 | 18 | 12 | 4 | |
| CSU | August 3, 2026 | 19 | 10 | 5 | |
| UKMO | August 6, 2026 | 17 | 10 | 2 | |
| Actual activity | 19 | 13 | 7 | ||
In advance of, and during, each hurricane season, several forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by national meteorological services, scientific agencies, and noted hurricane experts. These include forecasters from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), the United Kingdom's Met Office (UKMO), and Philip J. Klotzbach, William M. Gray and their associates at Colorado State University (CSU). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to NOAA and CSU, the average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 contained roughly 14 tropical storms, seven hurricanes, three major hurricanes, and an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 74–126 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h). NOAA typically categorizes a season as above-average, average, or below-average based on the cumulative ACE index, but the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is sometimes also considered.
Pre-season forecasts[]
On December 12, 2025, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) issued an extended range forecast for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, calling a well above-average season with eighteen named storms, twelve hurricanes, and six major hurricanes. The following day, Colorado State University (CSU) issued their own extended range forecast, predicting a sightly above-average season with seventeen named storms, ten hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.
In mid-spring 2026, on April 8, CSU revised their forecast upward in light of weakening era of El Nino and the returning of La Nina, this event was predicted pretty normal in intensity. Wind shear was expected to be sightly lower than average across the Atlantic, which would help significant tropical cyclone development. CSU's forecast featured an above-average season with eighteen named storms, thirteen hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. The Weather Channel (TWC) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU)' forecasts far apart six days, April 11 and April 17, similarly predicted above-average activity. On April 23, 2026, CSU issued their third forecast, decreasing their prediction to seventeen named storms, twelve hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Two days later, TSR released their second prediction, expecting a total of nineteen named storms, eleven hurricanes, and record number of seven major hurricanes, citing favorable conditions of sightly warmer sea surface temperatures and more favorable atmospheric conditions across the basin.
On May 2, 2026, TWC updated their initial forecast upwards with eighteen named storms, ten hurricanes, and six major hurricanes. United Kingdom's Met Office (UKMO) issued their first extended range forecast for tropical cyclones activity in the season, calling sixteen named storms, nine hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. UA released their prediction on May 21, featuring nineteen named storm, eleven hurricanes and five major hurricanes. On May 30, Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center issued their first forecast of the season, calling above-average activities with thirteen to twenty named storms, eight to fourteen hurricanes, and three to eight major hurricanes. They also fingered that will be a high chance for tropical cyclogenesis between summer and fall.
Mid-season forecasts[]
On June 12, 2026, roughly two weeks after the beginning of the season, TSR issued their third seasonal forecast, sightly increasing their previous prediction to twenty named storms, fourteen hurricanes and eight major hurricanes. North Carolina State University (NSCU) published their prediction on the season on June 20, calling sixteen named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. In July, there were two predictions on the season. The first one was a monthly prediction by CSU on July 12, predicting a very active season with nineteen named storms, twelve hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. The second one was issued by UA a week later, expecting a total of seventeen named storms, eleven hurricanes and four hurricanes.
On August 1, Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center issued their second and also the last prediction on the season, starting that there was a 85% chance for the 2026 season to be above-average, with sixteen to twenty-two named storms, eight to sixteen hurricanes. They cited the sea surface temperatures to be sightly warmer than usual because of the presenting of a La Niña. Two days later, both TSR and CSU issued their last prediction on the season, similarly predicted above-average activity. On August 6, UKMO released their last prediction, calling seventeen name storms, ten hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.