00:00What if fewer hurricanes actually means bigger danger?
00:04Forecasters say the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season may be quieter than normal.
00:09But that does not mean safer.
00:12NOAA predicts between 8 and 14 named storms this year.
00:15Only 3 to 6 may become hurricanes, and just 1 to 3 could reach major hurricane strength.
00:21So why are experts expecting fewer storms?
00:24The answer is El Nino.
00:26El Nino creates powerful winds high in the atmosphere.
00:30Those winds can tear hurricanes apart before they fully form.
00:33That could stop many storms from becoming dangerous.
00:37But there's another side to the story.
00:39Atlantic Ocean temperatures are still extremely warm.
00:43And warm water is hurricane fuel.
00:45That means any storm that survives could still become very powerful.
00:49Experts warn people not to relax.
00:52Because it only takes one hurricane to cause disaster.
00:55Hurricane Andrew in 1992 happened during a below-average season.
01:00Yet it became one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history.
01:04And after the unpredictable 2025 season,
01:07forecasters admit hurricane predictions are never perfect.
01:10So even if 2026 brings fewer storms, one storm could still change everything.
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