The Top 6 Hurricane Tracking Websites of 2026
- JD Solomon
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Hurricane season is upon us in the US Southeast. Once again, you’ll need the best sources of information to tell you when it’s time to batten down the hatches or get ready to be on the move. This year, I’ve added a new category on AI forecasting models, along with updated notes on emergency flood models, seasonal forecasting, and ocean temperature trends. These are my Top 6 sources for predicting and tracking hurricanes in 2026.
#1 NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC)
Still the most authoritative source for real-time data, forecasts, and advisories. New for 2026: smaller, more accurate forecast cones and an experimental cone that shows the true range of track uncertainty. A must-have on any list.
#2 Tropical Tidbits
Levi Cowan continues offering excellent insights, making this site a favorite among weather enthusiasts and professionals.
#3 Mike’s Weather Page (Spaghetti Models)
This page remains a valuable resource, especially with its aggregation of multiple models and easy-to-digest updates.
#4 Track the Tropics
The site is a comprehensive resource with quick access to various models and data.
#5 Weather Underground
Although it has undergone some changes over the years, it remains a strong source of localized weather data.
#6 The Eyewall
The Eyewall – Seeing you through the storm
Emergency Response
North Carolina has a great publicly available site called FIMAN (Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network) for travel needs. FIMAN displays current and forecasted water levels from hundreds of locations throughout North Carolina’s streams and coasts, helping residents and travelers make informed decisions during flood events.
Some Southeast U.S. states, including state departments of transportation (DOTs) and emergency management systems, have developed similar tools in recent years. If you are traveling after a major weather event, find your local sites.
Seasonal Forecasting
WeatherTiger
WeatherTiger is boldly reimagining seasonal forecasting and agricultural meteorology through the use of proprietary technologies. It's on Substack and subscription-based. I use it more as a reference and for weather insights than for real-time tracking.
Tropical Storm Risk (TSR)
Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) offers a leading resource for predicting and mapping tropical storm activity worldwide. TSR has won two major insurance industry awards: the British Insurance Awards for Risk Management (2006) and London Market Innovation (2004). Useful early in the season or before storms form; less useful when a storm is active and you need immediate decisions.
AI Forecasting
Google DeepMind – Weather Lab
Weather Lab is Google DeepMind’s free, public site for exploring AI-generated cyclone forecasts from its WeatherNext models alongside the official NHC track. It's new to my list this year and it's become a legitimate complement to the traditional model guidance above – worth bookmarking, not a replacement for the NHC.
Ocean Temperature Trends
University of Miami – Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
The overarching focus of the Rosenstiel School’s Upper Ocean Dynamics Laboratory (UODL) is to develop, implement, and disseminate academic research on the coupling between the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers under both weak and strong wind conditions.
University of Maine – Climate Change Institute
Climate Reanalyzer began in early 2012 as a platform for visualizing climate and weather forecast models. Site content is organized into three general categories: Weather Forecasts, Climate Charts, and Research Tools.
JD Solomon resides in the Carolinas, where he fishes, sails, and coaches baseball. Professionally, JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©. JD has weathered many storms, both on land and at sea.
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