Hurricane season begins June 1: What to know

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins Monday, June 1.

Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. The most active time is late August into October, but it's possible to see a hurricane make landfall any time of the year.

WRAL meteorologists will update this story daily throughout the entire hurricane season. There are currently no systems to watch over the next seven days.

Download the WRAL weather app to get alerts during severe weather. It's also a good idea to bookmark WRAL's interactive hurricane tracker and read WRAL meteorologists' predictions for the 2026 hurricane season.

The WRAL Severe Weather team has forecasted a below-average number of systems this Atlantic hurricane season due to a strong El Niño, but there are certain areas we need to monitor closely.

"Just because numbers are near-to-below average doesn't mean we can't take a hit," WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels said. 

The predictions for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season are as follows:

• Number of named storms: 11-14 (average is 15)
• Number of hurricanes: 5-7 (average is 7)
• Number of major hurricanes: 2-3 (average is 4)

In July 2025, Chantal hit North Carolina as a tropical depression, dumping 9 to 12 inches of rain and prompting flooding in low-lying areas. Businesses at Eastgate Crossing in Chapel Hill were especially impacted by severe flooding hit the area, and dozens of people in Durham had to be rescued by boat when the Eno River flooded.

Previous years saw more serious storms. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, killing at least 107 people in the state. Helene caused billions of dollars in damage, and while they are open for business, parts of western North Carolina are still rebuilding.

The WRAL documentary "Helene: What We Lost, What We Found," explores Helene's devastating impact.

Familiarize yourself with these hurricane preparedness tips:

• Flood insurance FAQ

• Make an emergency plan

• Know your evacuation route

• Make a hurricane survival kit

Here is the list of names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season:

• Arthur
• Bertha
• Cristobal
• Dolly
• Edouard
• Fay
• Gonzalo
• Hanna
• Isaias
• Josephine
• Kyle
• Leah
• Marco
• Nana
• Omar
• Paulette
• Rene
• Sally
• Teddy
• Vicky
• Wilfred