Colorado State University Lowers Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast, Citing El Niño Impact
Forecasters cite a stronger El Niño and expect 24% odds of a major hurricane reaching the U.S. East Coast.
- On Wednesday, Colorado State University researchers lowered their 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast to 11 named storms, down from 13 predicted in April.
- Strong El Niño conditions emerging in the central Pacific Ocean are driving the shift, as they typically generate higher vertical wind shear across the tropical Atlantic, said Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist at CSU.
- Forecasters now predict 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, aligning with recent outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and AccuWeather that anticipate a below-normal season.
- Still, CSU forecasters urge residents to remain prepared, noting that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to create an active season.
- The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov, with researchers planning to issue their next update on July 8th as no named systems have developed yet.
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Forecast of Named Storms in Hurricane Season Reduced from 13 to 11
Colorado State University researchers on Wednesday downgraded their projections for the hurricane season. The school’s forecast now predicts 11 named storms, down from 13 in the April projections. Five storms are forecast to reach hurricane strength, with winds at or above 74 mph, instead of the six predicted earlier. The post Forecast of Named Storms in Hurricane Season Reduced from 13 to 11 appeared first on FlaglerLive.
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast Lowered, Citing El Niño Risk
Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers on Wednesday lowered their forecast for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, citing an increased likelihood that El Niño will suppress storm development during the peak months of the season. The university now projects 11 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes for the Atlantic basin this year. The updated forecast is down from CSU’s April outlook, which called for 13 named stor…
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