Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, 2026

NOAA says the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through November 30, the standard six-month window used by the National Hurricane Center. The agency said it will release its official 2026 Atlantic seasonal outlook on Thursday, May 21, during a news conference in Lakeland, Florida. In the run-up to that forecast, NOAA and local news outlets have been urging residents to review supplies, insurance papers and evacuation plans before any storm is named. USA Today reported that every major preseason outlook issued so far has cited El Niño as a factor in this year’s forecast. ### When does the season officially start, and what changes on June 1? The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Its Atlantic basin pages state there are no tropical cyclones at this time and note that routine tropical weather outlooks resume on June 1, with special outlooks issued earlier if conditions warrant. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center also says its Atlantic graphical tropical weather outlook is updated regularly during the season, giving the public a standard place to track disturbances, watches and warnings once activity begins. ### What exactly is NOAA releasing this week? NOAA said in a May 4 media advisory that it will announce the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook on Thursday, May 21, at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida. The agency said speakers will outline expected activity, the factors influencing storm development and preparation advice for the public. The May 21 event is NOAA’s official preseason forecast, not the start of the season itself. The season opens 11 days later, on June 1, under the dates used by the National Hurricane Center. ### Why does El Niño keep coming up in 2026 forecasts? USA Today reported on May 18 that every forecast released so far for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has mentioned El Niño. The paper said forecasters are watching how warming in the Pacific could shape wind patterns and storm development in the Atlantic basin. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said, in figures cited this week by multiple outlets, that El Niño has an 82% chance of developing between May and July and a 96% chance of continuing through the December-to-February period. USA Today also reported that forecasters have warned residents not to assume an El Niño year means no hurricane risk. ### What are officials and local outlets telling people to do now? FOX Carolina reported on May 18 that residents in Upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina and Georgia should use the days before June 1 to review emergency kits, key documents and family plans. The station said the goal is to prepare before a forecast cone or named storm forces last-minute decisions. Local preparedness advice has focused on supplies and paperwork rather than storm-specific actions. That includes checking medications, batteries, food and water, and making sure insurance and identity documents are easy to access if an evacuation order is issued. ### Does a quieter forecast mean coastal residents can relax? USA Today reported on May 13 that preseason forecasts have pointed to near-normal to slightly below-normal Atlantic activity, with 11 to 16 named storms in one forecast range. The paper also said forecasters cautioned that even quieter seasons can still produce destructive landfalls. National Hurricane Center guidance cited by USA Today says major hurricanes can still strike during El Niño years, including along the Gulf Coast and in Florida. That is why preparedness messaging has centered on timing — getting ready before June 1 rather than waiting for the first advisory. ### Where should readers watch for the next official update? NOAA said its next major update is the May 21 seasonal outlook from Lakeland, Florida. The National Hurricane Center’s Atlantic pages will continue to carry basin status updates, and routine outlook products resume on June 1 as the 2026 season formally opens.