Be Informed. Be Prepared.
Official Hurricane Season: June 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026.
Both Colorado State University and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have predicted below-average seasons for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
An El Niño is expected to develop and strengthen during the summer and fall. El Niño typically brings stronger wind shear across the Atlantic that can rip apart developing tropical systems. While Atlantic waters are slightly warmer than normal (which favors storms) the El Niño effect is forecast to dominate.
NOAA is forecasting a total of 8-14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 3-6 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1-3 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges. An average season has 14 named storms with seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
Regardless of the forecast, every hurricane season requires preparation. Reliable, up-to-date storm information can be obtained from official sources like The National Hurricane Center AND/OR The National Weather Service. Just as the 20th Judicial Circuit has a comprehensive emergency plan, we encourage all employees and members of the public to have a plan in place for their home and family.
This heightened forecast is due to several contributing factors, including warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear, and increased activity from the West African Monsoon—all of which help support the formation of tropical storms.
Regardless of the forecast, every hurricane season requires preparation. Reliable, up-to-date storm information should always be obtained from official sources like the The National Hurricane Center AND/OR The National Weather Service. Just as the 20th Judicial Circuit has a comprehensive emergency plan, we encourage all employees and members of the public to have a plan in place for their home and family.
Court Operations and Employee Safety
Our top priority is the safety of employees and their families. We also aim to keep the courts open and operational to the greatest extent possible. In the event of closures, we work to resume mission-critical operations as soon as safely possible.
When storms develop, we monitor the progress closely. In the event that a Hurricane Warning is issued for all or part of our area, the Chief Judge will decide whether the affected courts should be closed.
Should one threaten our area, employees will be notified of actions to be taken in a number of ways: email, social media, direct communications from Court managers and supervisors, and information releases through the media (TV, radio, newspapers). We have also implemented the Send Word Now emergency notification system. This will allow Court Administration to contact employees and court partners via email, text, and phone.
After a storm, updates about reopening and returning to work is shared using the same methods. The public should monitor our website, local media, and social media accounts.