Trending Now - El Niño Likely to Intensify North Pacific Hurricane Activity

WHO:

Yahoo - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued the 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook.

Yale Climate Connections - NOAA is also responsible for the seasonal hurricane forecast for the northeast Pacific.

WHAT:

Yahoo - NOAA predicts a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, with a 55% chance of below-normal activity.

Yahoo - The forecast includes a range of eight to 14 total named storms, with three to six expected to become hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes.

Yale Climate Connections - NOAA forecasts an above-average hurricane season in the eastern Pacific, predicting 15-22 named storms, 9-14 hurricanes, and 5-9 major hurricanes.

Yale Climate Connections - The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) for the eastern Pacific is predicted to be 120-190% of the median.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Yale Climate Connections - The eastern Pacific affects Mexico, while the central Pacific affects Hawaii.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts until November 30.

Yahoo - The Pacific hurricane season started on May 15 and runs until November 30.

Yale Climate Connections - The forecast for the El Niño event indicates an 82% chance of it taking hold by July.

WHY:

Yahoo - El Niño is expected to influence hurricane activity, leading to fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic and more in the Pacific.

Yale Climate Connections - The anticipated development of a strong El Niño event is the primary factor behind the forecast for an active typhoon season.

HOW:

Yahoo - NOAA assigns a name to a storm when it officially becomes a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching at least 39 mph.

Yale Climate Connections - The warming waters of the tropical Pacific due to El Niño typically lead to increased hurricane activity.

(UPDATED May 23, 2026 04:15 UTC)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook, predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, with a 55% chance of below-normal activity and a forecast of eight to fourteen named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes. In contrast, NOAA anticipates an above-average hurricane season in the eastern Pacific, with predictions of fifteen to twenty-two named storms and five to nine major hurricanes, influenced by the expected development of a strong El Niño event, which has an 82% chance of occurring by July. The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through November 30, while the Pacific season started on May 15 and also ends on November 30.