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

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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.