What to Make of the Upcoming Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted it will be below normal due to a strong El Niño climate pattern. However, the administration also predicted the Pacific hurricane season will be above normal.

How The Media Covered It: Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) showed possible bias by reporting on the above-normal Pacific predictions at the end of its article. NPR (Lean Left) used the same story structure but also noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has less staff this season.

Outlets across the political spectrum gave voice to NOAA officials who advised residents to take caution regardless of its predictions, as "it only takes one storm to make for a very bad season." Newsweek (Center) emphasized, "Fewer storms don't necessarily mean lower risk," and cited "elevated Atlantic sea-surface temperatures" as a possible indicator of more powerful storms. USA Today (Lean Left) furthered this narrative, stating, "A lack of hurricane activity near the Gulf Coast in 2025 has left the region with a lot of hot water, ready to fuel hurricane activity." The outlet also pointed to climate change: "Several studies have shown that such storms may produce even more water under a changing climate." Outlets on the left often report on weather-related events more frequently and prominently due to their bias on climate change and more liberal audience interest.

RELATED: Climate Change Coverage in Media: Sensational or Warranted? | AllSides

FEMA Funds: Politico (Lean Left) reported, "The Trump administration is approaching hurricane season with the smallest disaster workforce since 2021." The outlet noted a 19% reduction in FEMA employees in Trump's second term (as of March), and it said the cuts are "raising fears that a catastrophic hurricane could overwhelm the government's ability to help desperate people and demolished communities." Some outlets – mainly local – recently reported on states receiving FEMA reimbursements, including Florida, Tennessee and Pennsylvania at the end of May.

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