New Delhi, May 21 -- US forecasters on Thursday (local time) released their outlook for the upcoming hurricane season in 2026. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s new seasonal outlook has predicted a "below-normal season" for 2026, primarily due to El Niño.

USA Today reported that such predictions have proven to be tricky business this year. NOAA expects the season to produce between eight and 14 named tropical storms, including three to six hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, one to three could strengthen into major storms.

The report, citing weather records from 1991 to 2020, states that in a typical year, roughly 14 storms are seen on average, seven of which spin into hurricanes. The first storm of 2026 wi...