Tips for planning a trip around the Caribbean hurricane season
Jump to:
- When’s hurricane season in the Caribbean?
- Four categories of tropical cyclones
- Caribbean hurricane season storm frequency
- Countries you may want to visit
- Countries you may want to avoid
- Protecting your Caribbean hurricane season vacation
When’s hurricane season in the Caribbean?
The Caribbean hurricane season tends to fall from June through November each year. The season can vary each year, so ahead of booking your vacation, it’s smart to check if storms may affect your trip based on the current year’s weather patterns.
What are the different levels of storms during the Caribbean hurricane season?
Storms vary in intensity, and there are four main categories of tropical cyclones based on wind speed:
- Tropical depression: Maximum sustained winds up to 38 mph.
- Tropical storm: Maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph.
- Hurricane: Maximum sustained winds at or above 74 mph.
- Major hurricane: Maximum sustained winds at or above 111 mph (rated Category 3, 4, or 5 based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale).
How often do storms occur during the Caribbean hurricane season?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Caribbean hurricane season averages about “14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.” Named storms tend to start towards the end of June, while hurricanes usually begin in August. Major hurricanes are more likely starting at the end of August around seven may reach hurricane intensity (sustained winds over 74 mph), and about three may reach major hurricane status (sustained winds over 110 mph).
The Caribbean hurricane season varies among each country in the region, so it’s important to look at data for the specific island you’re planning to visit.
If you want to know how often a particular area gets hit by a hurricane, you can visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. There, you can use the Historical Hurricane Tracking Tool to see the frequency of named storms and hurricanes in the country you’re interested in traveling to.
In any given year, the chances that there’ll be major hurricane disruptions to a Caribbean vacation may not be high. However, keep in mind that these statistics don’t mean the islands impacted one year are out of the woods for storms in the following year. These are long-term averages, and every hurricane season brings some element of risk to your trip planning.
Which countries may be less likely to have storms during Caribbean hurricane season?
If you’re planning to travel to the Caribbean during hurricane season, you may want to consider visiting an island such as Aruba, Curacao, or Bonaire, as they experience a major hurricane only once every 100 years (on average).
Which countries should I try to avoid during Caribbean hurricane season?
During hurricane season in the Bahamas, storm frequency is relatively high. A hurricane-strength storm has occurred there about every two years, and a major hurricane about every five years. Historically, those islands can expect a named storm to occur just about every year.
Other islands that may be more prone to storms during the Caribbean hurricane season are the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands.
How can I protect my trip if I’m traveling to the Caribbean during hurricane season?
If you decide to travel to the Caribbean during hurricane season, check out our hurricane safety tips before you depart.
There may be a good chance that hurricanes won’t impact your trip, and you’ll enjoy sunny skies and good vibes. However, it’s a good idea to have travel insurance with hurricane coverage to help mitigate financial risk during an unpredictable travel time. Check the details of your policy to ensure you have adequate coverage for the unlucky chance that you run into a storm.
Also remember that it’s essential to buy travel insurance early for hurricane coverage eligibility — once a storm is named, it’s too late for coverage to apply for claims related to that storm.
Want to get a travel insurance quote before your Caribbean hurricane season vacation?
We’re here for you with coverage you can count on and 24/7 travel assistance if an unexpected storm affects your trip. Get a quote now.
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