# How many hurricanes were there this year?

*The single Atlantic hurricane, Isaias, was a major hurricane, and the season does not officially end until November 30.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Science
- By: Science Desk
- Published: 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/

## Key facts

- The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has had 1 hurricane out of 10 named storms as of November 12, 2026, according to the National Hurricane Center. Source: [National Hurricane Center, NOAA](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/#the-2026-atlantic-hurricane-season-has-had-1-hurricane-out
- The one Atlantic hurricane was Isaias, a major hurricane that lasted from October 6 to October 10 with maximum winds of 105 knots. Source: [National Hurricane Center, NOAA](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/#the-one-atlantic-hurricane-was-isaias-a-major-hurricane-that
- The 2026 eastern Pacific season has had 10 hurricanes, 8 of them major hurricanes, out of 20 named storms as of November 12, 2026. Source: [National Hurricane Center, NOAA](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=epac). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/#the-2026-eastern-pacific-season-has-had-10-hurricanes-8-of
- The central Pacific has had 5 hurricanes, 3 of them major hurricanes, out of 8 named storms in 2026, a count that includes storms that crossed from the eastern Pacific. Source: [National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, NOAA](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=cpac). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/#the-central-pacific-has-had-5-hurricanes-3-of-them-major
- The Atlantic and eastern Pacific hurricane seasons both run to November 30, so the 2026 counts are not final. Source: [National Hurricane Center, NOAA](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:58:29-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/how-many-hurricanes-were-there-this-year/#the-atlantic-and-eastern-pacific-hurricane-seasons-both-run

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has had 1 hurricane so far, according to the National Hurricane Center's [2026 Atlantic season summary](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl), which is dated 03 UTC on November 12, 2026. The eastern Pacific has had 10 hurricanes over the same period, the center's [2026 eastern Pacific summary](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=epac) shows.

## The 2026 count by basin

The National Hurricane Center keeps a separate count for each basin. These are the totals on its [Atlantic](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl), [eastern Pacific](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=epac) and [central Pacific](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=cpac) pages, each dated 03 UTC on November 12, 2026.

| Basin | Hurricanes | Of those, major |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Atlantic | 1 | 1 |
| Eastern Pacific | 10 | 8 |
| Central Pacific | 5 | 3 |

The three rows cannot be added into one total, because a storm that crosses from the eastern Pacific into the central Pacific appears in both tables. The [central Pacific table](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=cpac) lists Fausto, Karina, Lowell, Norbert and Nolo with their eastern Pacific storm numbers.

The same pages count 10 named storms in the Atlantic, 20 in the eastern Pacific and 8 in the central Pacific.

## The one Atlantic hurricane

Isaias is the only Atlantic storm of 2026 to reach hurricane strength, according to the [Atlantic summary table](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl). The table classes it as a major hurricane, with dates from October 6 to October 10, maximum winds of 105 knots and a minimum pressure of 959 millibars.

The other 9 named storms in the Atlantic stayed below hurricane strength. Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna were tropical storms, and Josephine was a subtropical storm, the [same table](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl) shows. The strongest of them was Fay, at 60 knots.

The Atlantic summary puts the season at 5 hurricanes below the 1991 to 2020 normal and 3 named storms below it, as of its November 12 date. It also gives the season's accumulated cyclone energy, a measure of total storm strength and duration, as 19.9, which it says is 83% below normal.

## The eastern Pacific hurricanes

The [eastern Pacific summary](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=epac) counts 10 hurricanes and 8 major hurricanes, which it puts at 2 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes above the 1991 to 2020 normal. These are the storms its table classes as a hurricane or major hurricane with a peak inside the basin.

| Storm | Dates (UTC) | Peak wind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fausto | July 19 to July 29 | 90 knots |
| Genevieve | July 24 to August 2 | 140 knots |
| Karina | August 27 to September 7 | 125 knots |
| Marie | September 1 to September 8 | 85 knots |
| Odalys | September 20 to September 27 | 115 knots |
| Polo | September 20 to September 29 | 155 knots |
| Rachel | September 27 to October 11 | 105 knots |
| Simon | October 7 to October 16 | 135 knots |
| Trudy | October 13 to October 20 | 105 knots |
| Vance | October 21 to October 29 | 100 knots |

Fausto and Marie are classed as hurricanes and the other 8 as major hurricanes. Polo was the strongest, with a minimum pressure of 892 millibars.

The table also lists Lowell and Nolo as major hurricanes, with a mark that means their peak intensity was reached outside the eastern Pacific. Both appear in the central Pacific count below.

## The central Pacific hurricanes

The [central Pacific summary](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=cpac) counts 8 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, which it puts at 4 hurricanes above the 1991 to 2020 normal. Its table classes Lala at 115 knots, Lowell at 140 knots and Nolo at 135 knots as major hurricanes that peaked in the basin.

Fausto and Karina are listed there as hurricanes whose peak intensity was reached outside the central Pacific. The table numbers four storms as central Pacific storms, Lala, Moke, Olana and Pena, and Lala is the only one of the four it classes as a hurricane.

## What counts as a hurricane

A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph, or 64 knots, or higher, according to the National Hurricane Center's [climatology page](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/). A major hurricane has winds of 111 mph, or 96 knots, or higher, which is Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

An average Atlantic season has 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, based on the years 1991 to 2020, the [same page](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/) says. An average eastern Pacific season has 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes.

## Can the count still change?

Yes. The Atlantic and eastern Pacific seasons both run to November 30, according to the [climatology page](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), so a storm could still form or strengthen. [When does hurricane season end?](/science/when-does-hurricane-season-end/) covers the season dates for each basin, and [Are there any hurricanes right now?](/science/are-there-any-hurricanes-right-now/) lists the storms being tracked at the moment.

The figures for most storms are also not final. Each season page carries a report status column, and the [Atlantic page](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl) marks only Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal as "Final". The center's Tropical Cyclone Reports contain the post-analysis record of each storm's positions and intensities, the page says, and the reports for the other storms were not yet marked final.

## Sources

1. [2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=atl), National Hurricane Center, NOAA, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
2. [2026 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=epac), National Hurricane Center, NOAA, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
3. [2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2026&basin=cpac), National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, NOAA, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
4. [Tropical Cyclone Climatology](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), National Hurricane Center, NOAA, 2026-11-12 (primary source)