When Is Hurricane Season in Southwest Florida? 2026 Update

June 1 through November 30. Southwest Florida doesn’t have a separate season. It follows the Atlantic hurricane season, which covers the Gulf, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Within those six months, the National Hurricane Center’s records show most activity between mid-August and mid-October, with the peak around September 10. Early and late storms do happen, which is why it makes sense to have a plan in place by June and keep it until the season ends.

As of October 25, 2026, the National Hurricane Center’s season table lists 10 named storms, including one hurricane that reached major hurricane strength. That is below the 1991 to 2020 normal for this point in the season.

Isaias became the Atlantic’s first hurricane of 2026 late on October 7, Central time, an unusually late start to hurricane activity. It reached major hurricane strength over the Gulf and made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 on October 9.

Forecasters expected a quiet year. El Niño tends to increase wind shear over the tropical Atlantic, making it harder for storms to form and strengthen. Colorado State University lowered its forecast in June and July and kept it there in August. NOAA’s August update gave a 75% chance of a below-normal season.

Isaias, the Atlantic’s only hurricane through October 25, 2026, made landfall near Destin in the Florida Panhandle on October 9 as a Category 2 hurricane. Destin is outside Southwest Florida.

The season still runs through November 30. And a quiet year across the Atlantic says little about what a single storm can do when it does come close. Colorado State University’s Michael Bell put it this way in the April forecast: “It takes only one storm near you to make this an active season for you.”

If you are selling, gather the records buyers, inspectors and insurers may ask to review:

• The roof. The year it was last fully replaced, the permit and the final inspection.
• Wind protection. Your most recent wind mitigation report and the permits for shutters or impact windows and doors.
• Other storm upgrades. Permits and final inspections for a generator or other work.
• Storm history. Any insurance claims, the repairs that followed, and the invoices and photos.
• Flood history. Florida residential sellers must give buyers a flood disclosure at or before the sales contract is signed. It asks about known flood damage during your ownership, flood insurance claims and flood assistance received.

See how we prepare a home on our selling page, or ask what your home is worth.

If you are buying, start these checks before you make an offer and complete the property-specific review during your inspection period:

• Flood zone. Look up the address with our flood zone lookup.
• Evacuation zone. A separate map from the flood zone. Check Lee County’s evacuation zone map or Collier County Emergency Management.
• Insurance. Get an early estimate, then homeowners and flood quotes for the specific home during your inspection period. Our homeowners insurance guide covers what to compare.
• Monthly cost. Add the quotes to taxes and association fees in our monthly cost calculator.

Late-season storms are less common, and they still happen. A few things are worth a look while the season is open:

• Know your evacuation zone and your route. It is a different map from your flood zone.
• Keep your important documents backed up and in one place.
• Check that your shutters or impact protection are ready to use, and review generator safety before you need it.
• Know your plan for the pool cage and flood protection.

Our hurricane preparedness guide puts all of it in one place, from what to do before the season to what to do after a storm.