Colorado State University's tropical meteorology team has released its initial 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, calling for 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. The forecast is well above the 30-year average.
Warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic basin and a developing La Nina pattern are the primary drivers behind the elevated forecast. The Gulf of Mexico is running nearly 2 degrees above normal already.
Forecasters stress that it only takes one landfalling storm to make it a devastating season and urge coastal residents to finalize their hurricane preparedness plans well before the June 1 start date.
