NOAA predicts below-normal hurricane season

Laz Aleman Riverbend News The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its outlook for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday, May 21. Like two earlier forecasts released by other sources, NOAA expects the season to see below- normal storm activity. The NOAA forecast translates to eight to 14 named seasonal storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher, 39 miles per hour per hour being the defining threshold for a tropical storm. Of the eight to 14 named storms, NOAA expects that three to six of them will become hurricanes (winds of 74 miles per hour or higher), and one to three of the latter will become major hurricanes (maximum sustained winds of 111