Hurricane Season 2026 Opens Under El Niño—and a Forecasting Stress Test

The Atlantic may get a relative break this year, but coastal communities should not mistake “below average” for “safe.” NOAA’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook calls for 8 to 14 named storms, with 3 to 6 becoming hurricanes and 1 to 3 reaching major hurricane strength — Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least…