Hurricanes, plase stay away. Thanks.
Credit: UnSplash
Let’s state the obvious without hopefully jinxing things, shall we? For Broward residents, the last several hurricane seasons have felt unusually calm. In fact, Hurricane Irma in 2017 was the last hurricane to directly impact Broward County, though much of the area primarily dealt with outer bands, flooding rains and widespread power outages after the storm weakened before moving through Florida.
That nearly decade-long stretch without a major direct strike has helped fuel a sense of hurricane fatigue across South Florida. But forecasters warn against getting too comfortable particularly as the new hurricane season starts on Monday, June 1.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be below normal, with forecasts calling for eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes reaching Category 3 strength or higher. Officials say developing El Niño conditions could suppress storm activity across the Atlantic basin.
Still, NOAA officials continue stressing the same message: it only takes one storm.
Before Irma, Broward County endured a brutal 2005 season that included impacts from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Wilma alone left millions without power across South Florida and remains one of Broward’s most disruptive modern storms.
This year’s Atlantic storms have names and will be, in order of formation: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.
Historically, the peak of hurricane season arrives around September 10, with the most active stretch typically running from mid-August through late October.
Broward County officials are urging residents to prep early by checking evacuation zones, reviewing insurance policies and stocking hurricane kits before storms begin organizing offshore.
For Broward County’s official hurricane preparedness guide, visit broward.org.
