MIAMI, Fla. (Oct. 25, 2026) — As Florida enters the last five weeks of hurricane season, federal data show the 2026 Atlantic season has been much quieter than average.

The numbers so far

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) had counted 10 named storms in the Atlantic as of 11 a.m. EDT (15 UTC) on Oct. 25. That's three fewer than the 1991-2020 normal for this date [1]. Only one of them became a hurricane, five fewer than normal. That one storm, Isaias, was a major hurricane. NHC lists its peak winds at 105 knots (about 121 mph) between Oct. 6 and Oct. 10 [1].

NHC also tracks Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), an index of storm strength and duration. It stood at 19.5, which is 83% below normal for the date [1]. NHC's summary table lists zero direct deaths and $0 in U.S. damage for the season [1]. Those figures can change as NHC finishes its post-storm reports [1].

The 2026 storms, as listed by NHC [1]:

  • Tropical storms: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna
  • Major hurricane: Isaias
  • Subtropical storm: Josephine

Kyle is next on the World Meteorological Organization's 2026 list [2].

Forecasts called for a quiet year

NOAA's May 21 outlook gave a 55% chance of a below-normal season. It predicted 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes. NOAA pointed to an expected El Niño, which tends to suppress Atlantic storms, as the main reason [2]. NOAA's updated outlook raised the chance of a below-normal season to 75% and lowered the ranges to 7 to 13 named storms, 2 to 6 hurricanes and 0 to 2 major hurricanes [3]. An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes [2].

At the May outlook, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said: "It only takes one storm to make for a very bad season" [2].

What's brewing now

NHC's Tropical Weather Outlook issued at 2 p.m. EDT Sunday said, "Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days" for the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America [4].

Not over yet

The season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 [2]. NOAA says its seasonal outlook is "not a landfall forecast" [2]. NOAA points residents to weather.gov/safety and Ready.gov for preparedness information [2]. In Florida, many storm supplies are now exempt from sales tax all year [5].

Sources

  1. National Hurricane Center, "2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season" (Tropical Cyclone Reports and season summary, as of 15 UTC Oct. 25, 2026): https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl
  2. NOAA, "NOAA predicts below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season" (May 21, 2026): https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-below-normal-2026-atlantic-hurricane-season
  3. NOAA Climate Prediction Center, "Atlantic Hurricane Outlook" (updated 2026 outlook): https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml
  4. National Hurricane Center, Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook, 2 p.m. EDT Oct. 25, 2026: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWOAT.shtml
  5. Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 25A01-05: https://www.floridarevenue.com/taxes/tips/Documents/TIP_25A01-05.pdf

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