The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. For Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast, the useful questions go beyond which name comes next: what does the seasonal outlook say, what do the forecast maps show, and what work can be finished before a storm threatens?
This original guide replaces our 2023 names article. Names, pronunciations and official guidance were checked on October 12, 2026. It is a dated reference, not a live storm tracker. Planning ahead? Read the separate 2027 hurricane season guide.
NOAA’s latest published 2026 seasonal outlook
The Climate Prediction Center’s August 6, 2026 update gives a 75% chance of below-normal activity, a 20% chance of near-normal activity and a 5% chance of above-normal activity across the Atlantic basin. Its full-season ranges are:
- 7–13 named storms
- 2–6 hurricanes
- 0–2 major hurricanes
Each range has a 70% probability. The hurricane and major-hurricane figures are subsets, not additional storms. These are forecasts for the entire season, including activity before the August update; they are neither October observed totals nor a count of storms still to come. NOAA does not use this outlook to predict landfalls at particular locations.
In its August announcement, NOAA identified strengthening El Niño as a major influence: increased Atlantic wind shear can make tropical development and intensification less favorable. That basin-wide tendency does not eliminate damaging rainfall or wind at an individual property.
2026 Atlantic storm names and pronunciations
The following is the full assigned list, in order, from the National Hurricane Center’s naming page. Pronunciations follow its official Atlantic pronunciation guide; capital letters indicate stressed syllables. Inclusion here does not mean a storm has formed or become a hurricane.
| Name | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Arthur | AR-thur |
| Bertha | BUR-thuh |
| Cristobal | krees-TOH-bahl |
| Dolly | DAH-lee |
| Edouard | eh-DWARD |
| Fay | fay |
| Gonzalo | gohn-SAH-loh |
| Hanna | HAN-uh |
| Isaias | ees-ah-EE-ahs |
| Josephine | JOH-seh-feen |
| Kyle | KY-ull |
| Leah | LEE-ah |
| Marco | MAR-koe |
| Nana | NA-na |
| Omar | OH-mar |
| Paulette | pawl-LET |
| Rene | re-NAY |
| Sally | SAL-ee |
| Teddy | TEHD-ee |
| Vicky | VIH-kee |
| Wilfred | WILL-fred |
Leah is correct for 2026. The World Meteorological Organization retired Laura and selected Leah as its replacement. Reusing an uncorrected 2020 list would give readers the wrong name. If the regular list is exhausted, a supplemental list is used rather than the Greek alphabet.
What changed in NHC forecast graphics for 2026?
NHC’s 2026 products and services update describes several changes. Two are especially useful when checking a forecast on your phone:
- Inland wind alerts on the operational cone graphic. The graphic now includes inland U.S. tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings as well as coastal ones. Read the legend: overlapping hurricane-watch and tropical-storm-warning areas use pink-and-blue hatching.
- A gray X for certain disturbances. A system with near-zero development chances in both the two-day and seven-day periods can appear with a gray X. Such a disturbance may still be highlighted for significant rain or flooding. A gray X does not promise harmless weather.
The cone concerns the probable path of the storm’s center, not the full area that could experience impacts. NHC also introduced a separate experimental cone in 2026; check which graphic you are viewing rather than assuming all cone images use the same method.
A useful forecast routine for Houston properties
Use the NHC’s current advisories for individual systems and NWS Houston/Galveston’s tropical information for local context. Check the issue time before forwarding a screenshot. Keep the seasonal outlook separate from the alerts that govern today’s decisions.
Before a threat develops, review evacuation arrangements and emergency supplies using the NWS hurricane preparation checklist. Follow local officials’ instructions when a storm approaches.
For the building itself, list existing leaks, photograph current conditions when safe and arrange qualified help for roof or drainage concerns. Give tenants or staff a clear contact for reporting water entry. HTX Elite Build can discuss roof inspections, storm repairs and water damage restoration. Share your property details to plan the next step.
About these sources
The numerical outlook above is tied to NOAA’s August 6 release. The names and pronunciations come from NHC’s current reference lists, and the map changes come from its 2026 technical update. Follow the linked official pages for later revisions; this article does not report live storm positions or final season totals.