Like an oncoming ship on the distant horizon, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is steadily approaching.
Now just over three months away, meteorologists are busy preparing their forecasts for the upcoming season, which begins June 1. And most eyes are on what's happening with the El Niño/La Niña cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
"The big question coming up for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is… will we get El Niño, and if we do, how strong will it be?," said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach in an email to USA TODAY.
Simply put, if we get an El Niño as expected, the Atlantic season may be less active than average. "Overall I'd expect a little bit less activity this year, but how much less is to be determined," said associate scientist Andy Hazelton of the University of Miami in an email to USA TODAY.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 featured about 14 named storms, of which seven were hurricanes. Of those seven hurricanes, three were major hurricanes (Category 3 and higher).
