US will see below-average 2026 hurricane season with up to 14 named storms, Noaa predicts

Forecast came amid warning that US was unprepared for storms with staffing cuts under Trump administration

The US will see a below-normal hurricane season in 2026, federal government scientists said on Thursday, predicting eight to 14 named storms with winds at 39mph or more.

The season has a “55% chance of being below normal, 35% chance of near normal and a 10% chance of above normal,” said Neil Jacobs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) administrator, at a press conference.