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\u201cThese improvements empower communities to prepare earlier and more effectively for dangerous hazards from tropical storms and hurricanes,\u201d Michael Brennan, director of NOAA\u2019s National Hurricane Center, said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n The updates come as climate change brings warmer global temperatures<\/a> and rising sea levels, leading to more extreme weather events such as longer and more intense hurricane seasons, heat waves, storms, flooding, and even colder winter weather in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The NHC\u2019s new 2026 forecast cone<\/a> will now include tropical storms and hurricane watches and warnings for inland areas\u2014not just coastal areas\u2014\u201cin effect for the whole continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\u201d<\/p>\n The additional information enables people in areas farther inland to better understand and prepare for the dangers posed by hazardous winds associated with hurricanes and tropical storms, without complicating the graphic with too many extra layers.<\/p>\n Some key features of the updated 2026 cone include a legend that will show symbols for where a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are simultaneously in effect (represented by diagonal pink and blue lines), a new icon with single shading for the entire five-day outlook cone, and full and intermediate tropical cyclone advisories that will be available on hurricanes.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat\u2019s happening?<\/h2>\n
Key feature updates coming for the 2026 hurricane season<\/h2>\n