NOAA’s National Hurricane Center Unveils Major 2026 Upgrade Adding Inland U.S. Watches and Warnings to Hurricane Track Cone
UNITED STATES — The National Hurricane Center has announced significant updates to its products and services ahead of the 2026 hurricane season, including a major change to one of its most recognized tools: the hurricane forecast track cone.
The update introduces an operational cone graphic that now includes inland tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Inland Watches and Warnings Now Included in Cone Graphic
For years, the traditional cone graphic primarily depicted coastal watches and warnings. Beginning with the 2026 season, the new version will visually incorporate both coastal and inland watches and warnings directly into the forecast cone.
This change follows an experimental testing phase during the 2024 and 2025 hurricane seasons. According to the announcement, user feedback showed strong support for the addition of inland alerts to better communicate wind risk and storm impacts beyond the immediate coastline.
The updated cone will now display:
- Coastal and inland tropical storm watches and warnings
- Coastal and inland hurricane watches and warnings
- Clear symbology for areas where multiple alerts overlap
- A single shading for the entire 5-day forecast cone
The legend on the new graphic includes diagonal pink and blue lines to indicate areas where hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings are simultaneously in effect.
Where the Changes Apply
The updated cone graphic will cover:
- The continental United States
- Hawaii
- Puerto Rico
- The U.S. Virgin Islands
This represents a broader geographic communication strategy, reflecting the reality that hurricane-force winds and tropical storm impacts frequently extend well inland.
Availability and Advisory Timing
The cone graphic will be available on hurricanes.gov alongside full and intermediate advisories when the complete forecast advisory package is issued.
In rare situations, a preliminary cone may still be posted that shows only coastal watches and warnings until the final version with inland alerts becomes available.
Additional 2026 Improvements
In addition to the operational inland cone upgrade, the 2026 hurricane season will also include:
- An experimental forecast track cone that incorporates directional and speed forecast errors
- New storm surge products tailored specifically for Hawaii
- A more user-friendly version of the National Hurricane Center’s mobile website
These updates aim to improve clarity, accessibility, and risk communication as hurricane threats become increasingly complex.
Why This Matters
Hurricanes frequently weaken after landfall but can still produce damaging winds, flooding rainfall, and tornadoes far inland. By integrating inland watches and warnings directly into the cone graphic, the National Hurricane Center is working to better reflect the full geographic scope of storm hazards.
As the 2026 hurricane season approaches, emergency managers, residents, and weather watchers across the United States and U.S. territories will be seeing a more comprehensive visual representation of hurricane risk — extending well beyond the coastline.
ChicagoMusicGuide.com will continue monitoring major updates ahead of the 2026 hurricane season.