The agency just announced a big redesign. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) is redesigning its most recognizable—some would say iconic—“cone” graphic for the 2026 hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center makes a new cone official, and floats another experimental cone.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. If you're a Florida resident — or anyone living in a hurricane-prone area — chances are you're very familiar with the cone of probability, sometimes called the "cone of death.

The proposed changes focus on improving how a storm’s track forecast is communicated and how the public interprets forecast confidence. The NHC’s forecast cone — likely its most recognized graphic — is often misunderstood as depicting impact areas ...