Hurricane Season Is Two Weeks Away — 8 Things To Know Right Now

InnovationScienceHurricane Season Is Two Weeks Away — 8 Things To Know Right NowByMarshall Shepherd,Senior Contributor.Follow AuthorMay 15, 2026, 08:18am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.IN SPACE - OCTOBER 8: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) In this NASA handout, Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm at the time of this photograph, was pictured in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Yucatan Peninsula on October 8, 2024 seen from the International Space Station as it orbited 257 miles above. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe start of the Atlantic hurricane season is just about two weeks away. Tropical storms and hurricanes affect U.S. mortality rates, infrastructure, and the economy. As we approach the 2026 season, here are eight things you need to know about it.How Active Will The Season Be?Nobody actually knows the answer to that question. NOAA will release its seasonal prediction on May 21, but Colorado State University forecasters offered their early assessment in April. They call for thirteen named storms, six hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. All of those numbers are near or slightly below the average from 1991 to 2020.TOPSHOT - An aerial view of destroyed buildings following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)AFP vi...