As it has done for many decades, the meteorologists at Colorado State University have issued their first forecast for the 2026 Hurricane Season. The CSU Tropical Weather Department says that 2026 will be slightly less active, with 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes of Category 3 or stronger.
This is slightly below the historical average, but differs from their 2025 forecast that had 13 tropical storms, 5 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. The number of major hurricanes is relative, as all one needs is one major hurricane to turn life upside down when it hits.
We are still a month and a half away from the start of the 2026 Hurricane Season on 1 June. The Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season lasts until November of each year. You’ve probably heard rumblings about the burgeoning El Niño, and possible Super Niño, shaping up in the tropical Pacific. El Niño is usually good news for the tropics.
The expectation for an El Niño event during the peak of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season is a big factor in CSU’s below average forecast, along with near normal sea surface temperatures, which have been much above average in recent seasons. The strength of the El Niño will be an important factor in just how the season plays out. Basically, the El Niño affects the strong winds in the Caribbean basin, causing the well reported “wind shear” that weakens or destroys tropical storms.
Here are the names of the 2026 Atlantic storms:
Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Paulette, Omar, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.
Read more:
Colorado University weather forecast
MSN weather
13 April 2026