00:00AccuWeather's 2026 Eastern and Central Pacific hurricane forecast is out, and here are the numbers.
00:06In the Eastern Pacific, we're forecasting 17 to 22 named storms, 9 to 13 hurricanes,
00:12and 4 to 8 of them we expect to become major hurricanes.
00:15And we're also forecasting 6 to 9 direct impacts on Mexico and Central America.
00:21For the Central Pacific, we're forecasting 4 to 7 named storms, 2 to 4 hurricanes,
00:27and 1 to 3 major hurricanes in that basin with 1 to 2 direct impacts on Hawaii.
00:33What are the main ingredients that I'm really watching for for this upcoming hurricane season?
00:37The sea surface temperatures, I think, is going to be the primary driver for this season.
00:42Everywhere from Hawaii to Mexico and then even up towards California,
00:46the water temperatures are above average for this time of the year
00:49and are expected to remain so throughout the hurricane season.
00:53The other thing we're watching for is the development and strengthening of an El Nino for this upcoming hurricane season.
01:00El Nino is expected to develop during the early hurricane season
01:03and then strengthen throughout the rest of the hurricane season,
01:07potentially becoming a super El Nino by the end of the hurricane season.
01:11We give it about a 20% chance of occurring,
01:13and what that would do for the end of the hurricane season in the Eastern and Central Pacific,
01:17it likely would make it more active.
01:20Again, the reason for that is because less hostile winds really moving through the basin
01:24to disrupt those tropical systems.
01:26That can allow the hurricane season to go all the way through the end of November.
01:30Wouldn't surprise me if we see a storm maybe even in the month of December.
Comments