Updated

AccuWeather published an updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook in the period around September 9, 2026, with lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva explaining that the forecast number of named storms had been reduced. The main driver cited was a developing El Niño that forecasters said was on track to become one of the strongest on record, a pattern that typically increases wind shear over the Atlantic basin and suppresses tropical development. At that point in 2026 only three Atlantic named storms had formed — Arthur and Bertha, both of which affected the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the short-lived Cristobal over the open ocean. DaSilva cautioned that a quieter overall season does not remove the risk of a damaging U.S. hurricane strike, noting that a single landfall can define a season. The revision aligned with NOAA's August update, which maintained a below-normal outlook of 7–13 named storms, 2–6 hurricanes and 0–2 major hurricanes. The message was significant because it came at the climatological peak of the season in early September, when forecasters historically urge coastal residents to stay prepared; recent late-season storms such as Helene and Milton in 2024 were cited as examples of destructive systems forming after the peak.