2026 Atlantic hurricane season storm names, how to pronounce them

Name: Official 2026 Atlantic Hurricane forecast released
Uploaded: 2026-06-24T14:43:04-05:00
Description: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic this year.

Official 2026 Atlantic Hurricane forecast released

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic this year.

HOUSTON - As tropical storms and hurricanes form, they are given names from a list that is managed by the World Meteorological Organization.

Here’s a look at the names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

2026 Atlantic hurricane season names

Arthur (pronounced AR-thur)
Bertha (pronounced BUR-thuh)
Cristobal (pronounced krees-TOH-bahl)
Dolly (pronounced DAH-lee)
Edouard (pronounced eh-DWARD)
Fay (pronounced fay)
Gonzalo (pronounced gohn-SAH-loh)
Hanna (pronounced HAN-uh)
Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs)
Josephine (pronounced JOH-seh-feen)
Kyle (pronounced KY-ull)
Leah (pronounced LEE-ah)
Marco (pronounced MAR-koe)
Nana (pronounced NA-na)
Omar (pronounced OH-mar)
Paulette (pronounced pawl-LET)
Rene (pronounced re-NAY)
Sally (pronounced SAL-ee)
Teddy (pronounced TEHD-ee)
Vicky (pronounced VIH-kee)
Wilfred (pronounced WILL-fred)

How are tropical cyclones named?

There are six lists of names – one per year – that are recycled every six years. They are managed by the World Meteorological Organization, which determines when a storm name needs to be retired and replaced because of its deadly or costly impact.

Once a tropical depression strengthens into a tropical storm, it receives a name from the list for that year. Names are assigned alphabetically.

Image of Hurricane Milton from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on Oct. 8, 2024. (Photo: NOAA)

What happens if the list runs out?

During a particularly active hurricane season, the list of storm names could run out.

In the past, storms would then be named after the Greek alphabet – for example, Hurricane Alpha. But in 2021, the World Meteorological Organization announced the discontinuation of that practice.

Now, there is a supplemental list of names that will be assigned to storms once the main list is exhausted.