2026 Storm Names: What to Expect This Season

Louisiana [KNGT-FM] - It's only Febraury and you are probably thinking why are we talking about hurricanes already? In less than four months, the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season will be here before you know it.

Around this time every year, the National Hurricane Center (NHC), which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is responsible for forecasting and announcing storms. Still, the agency does not create the names itself. So how does that work?

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After a major hurricane season, affected countries can request that a name be retired. The WMO Hurricane Committee votes on the request, and if approved, the name is permanently removed. A storm name is retired if the hurricane was extremely deadly, caused extensive, costly damage, is historically significant, or would likely cause confusion or distress if reused.

Once a name is retired, a new name (same letter, same gender) replaces it on the rotating six-year list.

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Famous Retired Names of Atlantic hurricane names

Katrina (2005)
Harvey (2017)
Maria (2017)
Ian (2022)

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1, 2026, and runs through Novmeber 30, 2026. The height of hurricane season is usually from Mid-August through the end of September, when most people living along the Southern Gulf Coast watch closely.

The National Hurricane Center has released the names of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Some may sound familiar, and that is because of what we discussed earlier about reusing maes for a six-year rotating list.

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