Here’s how busy the 2026 hurricane season on the MS Coast will be, new NOAA forecast shows
National forecasters are predicting a lighter hurricane season this year on the Mississippi Coast — slowing down from previous years.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a total of eight to 14 named storms, or storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher, according to a May 21 news release.
“With the most advanced forecast modeling and hurricane tracking technologies, NOAA and the National Weather Service are prepared to deliver real-time storm forecasts and warnings,” United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said in the release.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 20, according to the NOAA.
How many storms are expected to become hurricanes?
Of the eight to 14 storms forecasted, only three to six are expected to become hurricanes, according to the NOAA.
To be considered a hurricane the storm must have winds of 74 miles per hour or higher. Hurricanes with a wind speed of 111 or higher are considered major, NOAA experts said.
These are the wind speeds for each hurricane category, per the agency:
- 1: 74-95 miles per hour
- 2: 96-110 miles per hour
- 3: 111-129 miles per hour
- 4: 130-156 miles per hour
- 5: 157 or higher
Why is hurricane forecast below normal?
An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, NOAA experts said.
The below normal hurricane forecast can be largely attributed to slightly warmer temperatures in the Atlantic as a result of a developing El Niño climate pattern, according to the agency.
“Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold,” the NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said in the release. “That’s why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now.”
How busy was hurricane season in 2025?
Last year, the Atlantic basin produced 13 named storms and five hurricanes, the NOAA said in a Nov. 25 news release.
None of the hurricanes struck the U.S. — the first time that’s happened in a decade, experts said in the release.
Be prepared for storms
Here are some hurricane safety tips from the Mississippi Public Service Commission:
- Have an extra supply of food
- Make sure you have batteries for flashlights and radios
- Remove limbs that could cause damage from trees and shrubbery
- Turn your air conditioning down to cool your house
- Charge your cell phone before the storm
- Keep freezer doors sealed
- Stock up on water, about three gallons per person
- Have a cash supply on hand
