Hurricane Tracking Maps Getting Major Upgrade for 2026 Storm Season

Federal weather officials are rolling out enhanced hurricane forecast maps starting in 2026, featuring improved tracking cones that will show wind warnings for inland areas. The upgrades also include new storm surge alerts for Hawaii, following successful testing that showed communities better understood hurricane dangers.

Federal weather forecasters are preparing to launch significantly upgraded hurricane tracking maps for the 2026 storm season, designed to help communities better prepare for dangerous weather conditions.

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center announced Monday it will debut enhanced forecast cone graphics and introduce storm surge warning systems for Hawaii as part of comprehensive improvements to their tropical weather products.

“These improvements empower communities to prepare earlier and more effectively for dangerous hazards from tropical storms and hurricanes,” said Michael Brennan, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

Enhanced Hurricane Tracking Maps

The redesigned tropical cyclone graphics will help residents stay alert to wind dangers from hurricanes and tropical storms, particularly those living away from coastal areas. Starting in 2026, the forecast tracking cone will display tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for inland regions.

This enhancement comes after a successful trial period last year that showed the improved forecast cone helped inland communities better recognize and prepare for tropical cyclone wind threats.

Key features of the updated cone graphics include:

• Coverage of all land-based tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings across the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

• Simplified single shading for the complete 5-day forecast cone

• New legend symbols showing areas under both hurricane watch and tropical storm warning conditions

• Full availability on hurricanes.gov for all tropical cyclone advisories

Weather officials are also testing an experimental version of their tracking cone that will use elliptical shapes instead of circles at each forecast point. This new approach will capture a broader range of possibilities for both storm speed and direction, expanding coverage from the current 67% to 90% of potential forecast scenarios.

The experimental cone graphics will be accessible on hurricanes.gov during the testing phase, though technical issues may occasionally affect timing or availability.

Hawaii Gets Storm Surge Warnings

The Hawaiian Islands will receive new storm surge watches, warnings, and peak surge graphics for the first time. These products expand the Hurricane Center’s storm surge services beyond their current coverage of the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The new Hawaiian storm surge products will:

• Provide probability-based forecasts of water and storm surge levels up to 72 hours before hurricane impacts

• Factor in storm track, wind intensity, and wind radius data

• Cover all main Hawaiian Islands

These product enhancements represent the Hurricane Center’s ongoing commitment to improving public safety communications and helping people better understand tropical storm hazards.

Media contact: Maria Torres, NOAA National Hurricane Center, maria.torres@noaa.gov