New Jersey’s first detailed look at the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is in—and on paper, it’s a quieter year. But “quieter” in hurricane language never means “safe,” especially along the Jersey Shore.

Colorado State University (CSU), one of the most closely watched seasonal outlook teams, is calling for a slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2026.

Their current forecast:

• 13 named Storms
• 6 hurricanes
• 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher)

That’s a bit less active than last season, which featured more major hurricanes, but still, plenty of opportunity for impactful storms somewhere along the East Coast.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has already begun issuing its daily Tropical Weather Outlooks for 2026.

• Outlooks started in mid-May and will continue through the end of November.
• As of the latest update, the NHC is not monitoring any areas of concern in the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Gulf of Mexico.

Early-season storms in May are rare, but not unheard of, which is why those outlooks begin before the official season.

What New Jersey residents should do now

A below-average forecast is not a free pass to ignore hurricane prep. For coastal and inland New Jersey, flooding, wind, and power outages can come from even a weak tropical storm or a post-tropical system.

Here are a few smart steps to take before the season ramps up:

• Review your flood risk: Check whether your home or business is in a flood-prone area and understand local evacuation routes.
• Update your emergency kit: Include water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, chargers, and important documents.
• Secure your property: Trim trees, clear gutters, and think about how you’d secure outdoor furniture or equipment before a storm.
• Check your insurance: Confirm your coverage for wind and flood—standard homeowners policies typically do not cover flood damage.
• Stay plugged into local alerts: Sign up for local emergency notifications and follow trusted weather sources for updates as the season unfolds.

One well-placed storm can define an entire season for the Garden State—so the smart move is to treat this forecast as a window of opportunity to get ready, not a reason to relax.