Less Than 100 Days Until Start of Hurricane Season: What You Need to Know Now

It may be hard to believe if you live in the eastern U.S. and have been buried under feet of snow, but hurricane season is right around the corner. The start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is less than 100 days away. Here is a look at what to keep in mind as the season approaches.

Early Long-Range Forecasts for 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Although it is still too early to predict with precision, meteorologists have a number of forecasting tools to lean on when determining the expectations for the upcoming tropical weather season. The first driver of the intensity of the season will be how the ENSO (El Niño - Southern Oscillation unfolds in the weeks ahead. The status of ENSO has historically been a major predictor of how strong and long a season may turn out.

The latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is signaling that this part of the globe will be under the influence of El Niño by the time the peak of the season begins. History has shown us that the guidance of this climate phase in the equatorial Pacific typically mutes the overall impacts of tropical weather in the Atlantic.