When Is Hurricane Season? Official Dates and Peaks by Basin
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The eastern Pacific season runs from May 15 to November 30, and the central Pacific season, which covers Hawaii, from June 1 to November 30. NHC puts the peak of the Atlantic season on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October.
What are the official hurricane season dates?
| Basin | Area | Official season | Forecast center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf | June 1 – November 30 | NHC, Miami |
| Eastern North Pacific | East of 140°W | May 15 – November 30 | NHC, Miami |
| Central North Pacific | 140°W to the International Date Line | June 1 – November 30 | Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Honolulu |
Source: the NHC glossary. NHC products now call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, a name NOAA began using in its products in 2025. The dates mark the part of the year when tropical cyclones are most common, not hard limits. NHC defines hurricane season as the portion of the year with a relatively high incidence of hurricanes.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
In the Atlantic, NHC’s climatology puts the peak on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Based on 1991–2020 data, the first hurricane of an average Atlantic season forms around August 11 and the first major hurricane around September 1.
The eastern Pacific has a peak in late August, but NHC says it is less pronounced than the Atlantic peak. Activity there is spread over a longer part of the season, with most storms forming between late June and early October.
NHC notes that formation dates in any single season can differ considerably from these averages.
When do the first storms of the season usually form?
| Milestone (1991–2020 average) | Atlantic | Eastern Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| First named storm | June 20 | June 10 |
| Second named storm | July 17 | June 24 |
| First hurricane | August 11 | June 26 |
| First major hurricane | September 1 | July 15 |
Source: NHC Tropical Cyclone Climatology. A named storm has sustained winds of at least 39 mph, a hurricane at least 74 mph and a major hurricane at least 111 mph. Our guide to hurricane categories explains the scale.
How many storms does an average season have?
NHC’s 1991–2020 averages are:
- Atlantic: 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
- Eastern Pacific: 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes.
- Central Pacific: 4 to 5 tropical cyclones, counting depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Can hurricanes form outside the season?
Yes. NHC’s naming rules cover storms that form off-season: a storm that forms on December 28 takes its name from the list of the season just ended, and a February storm takes a name from the coming season’s list. NHC begins routine Atlantic and eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Outlooks on May 15 and issues them every six hours through November 30. Outside that period, NHC issues special outlooks as needed. Routine central North Pacific outlooks run from June 1 to November 30.
How do NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlooks work?
NOAA’s seasonal outlooks are official products of the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), made with hurricane experts from NHC and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Each outlook gives:
- The chances of an above-normal, near-normal or below-normal season.
- Ranges of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes, each with a 70% probability. CPC says activity is expected to fall within these ranges in 7 of 10 seasons with similar conditions.
- A range for Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE). CPC computes ACE by squaring the wind speed of each storm at 6-hour intervals and adding the values over the season.
The outlooks are based on predictions of large-scale climate factors, such as El Niño, and on seasonal forecast models. The Atlantic outlook comes out in late May and is updated in early August. CPC said there would be no further updates to its 2026 eastern Pacific outlook after May.
The outlooks are not landfall forecasts. CPC states that NOAA does not make seasonal landfall predictions and that it only takes one hurricane, or tropical storm, to cause a disaster. CPC also says coastal areas should prepare for every season regardless of the outlook.
What did NOAA’s 2026 outlooks say?
| Outlook | Chances: below / near / above normal | Named storms | Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic, May 21, 2026 | 55% / 35% / 10% | 8–14 | 3–6 | 1–3 |
| Atlantic update, August 6, 2026 | 75% / 20% / 5% | 7–13 | 2–6 | 0–2 |
| Eastern Pacific, May 21, 2026 | 10% / 20% / 70% | 15–22 | 9–14 | 5–9 |
Source: CPC Atlantic Hurricane Outlook and NOAA’s May and August releases. NOAA linked its below-normal Atlantic forecast to a developing El Niño. For the central Pacific, the NWS office in Honolulu gave a 70% chance of an above-normal season, with 5 to 13 tropical cyclones.
As of November 9, 2026, NHC’s season table lists 10 named storms, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane in the Atlantic. The hurricane, Isaias, reached 105 knots (about 120 mph), Category 3, in October. NHC puts the season’s ACE about 83% below normal. Our live list of active NHC storms shows any system that forms before the season ends on November 30.
Bottom line
The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10. The eastern Pacific season runs May 15 to November 30, and the central Pacific season June 1 to November 30. Seasonal outlooks describe overall activity, not where storms will hit, so watch NWS alerts for your state and follow your local officials whenever a storm approaches. Our guide to how hurricanes are named explains the names you will see in each season.
FAQ
Does hurricane season really end on November 30?
November 30 is the official end in all three U.S. basins. Storms can still form later, and NHC has naming rules for storms that form between seasons.
When does NHC start its routine tropical outlooks?
Routine Atlantic and eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Outlooks begin May 15 and are issued every six hours, at 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC, through November 30. Central North Pacific outlooks run from June 1 to November 30.
Is the Pacific peak the same as the Atlantic peak?
No. NHC places the eastern Pacific peak in late August and the Atlantic peak on September 10. The eastern Pacific peak is less pronounced, and its activity is spread from late June to early October.
What does a below-normal season mean for my area?
Nothing specific. CPC says the outlook does not predict activity for any particular location, and seasons with similar storm counts can have very different impacts.