Hurricane Forecast Map Gets Major Upgrade

New cone design aims to better communicate wind risks and hazards beyond the cone.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:19am

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The 2026 National Hurricane Conference in Orlando showcased a revamped hurricane forecast map from the National Hurricane Center. After a two-year experimental run, the updated cone design is intended to better convey wind risks and hazards that can extend beyond the traditional forecast cone.

Why it matters

The hurricane forecast cone is a critical tool for communicating storm risks to the public, so improving its design and accuracy is crucial for public safety and emergency preparedness, especially as hurricane seasons become more intense.

The details

The new forecast cone features a more pronounced tapered shape to better illustrate the uncertainty in a storm's path, and additional shading to highlight the potential for damaging winds outside the cone's boundaries. These changes are aimed at providing clearer, more actionable information to residents in hurricane-prone regions.

  • The 2026 National Hurricane Conference took place in Orlando, Florida.

The players

National Hurricane Center

The U.S. government agency responsible for tracking and forecasting hurricanes and other tropical weather systems.

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The takeaway

The updated hurricane forecast cone represents an important step forward in communicating storm risks more effectively, which could help save lives and property in hurricane-prone regions as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify.