Hurricane Season in the Caribbean Has Arrived—Here’s What You Should Know

Common belief suggests that the Caribbean is off-limits during hurricane season, which runs from June to November. However, this isn't always the reality. When significant hurricanes hit, they tend to impact only a limited area of the islands, which cover around 1 million square miles of the Caribbean Sea.

“Even if a hurricane is affecting the southern Bahamas, most of the region is likely to enjoy perfect tropical weather,” states Frank J. Comito, the former CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

If you plan to travel to the area during hurricane season, it's crucial to be ready for potential severe storms and inclement weather. Here’s what you should understand about visiting the Caribbean during this time.

What types of tropical storms exist?

Understanding weather patterns can be challenging, particularly when distinguishing between a tropical storm and a hurricane can seem unclear to many travelers. The key difference lies in wind speed, which is crucial in determining a storm's severity and classification. A weather system qualifies as a tropical storm when wind speeds hit 39 miles per hour. Once they exceed 74 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, with the terminology differing based on the storm's location in the world.

Hurricanes form in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific regions, while they are referred to as typhoons in the northwest Pacific. In the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, the broader term “tropical cyclone” is used for severe storms, regardless of wind strength.

What makes the Caribbean susceptible to hurricanes?

The Caribbean’s distinct geography contributes to its vulnerability to storms. The region’s warm waters and high humidity create wet summer months. As warm air evaporates and ascends, it disrupts the ocean's surface, leading to thunderstorms and tropical storms. Ample warm water keeps hurricanes thriving—something abundant in this region.

In very basic terms, a hurricane can be viewed as a large cluster of thunderstorms focused in one area. When heavy rainfall coincides with strong winds, water can surge inland. However, as these turbulent weather systems make landfall and cool down, storms often begin to diminish.

When does hurricane season occur in the Caribbean?

Per the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), hurricane season in the Caribbean extends from June 1 to November 30, with a typical peak in August and September. This region lies within the Atlantic hurricane basin, which also influences Florida and other coastal areas of the southern United States. In 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported 17 named storms passing through the Caribbean, rising to 20 in 2023. For 2024, they predict an 85 percent chance of an above-normal hurricane season, with 17 to 25 named storms, of which eight to 13 are expected to develop into hurricanes.

To ensure better preparedness, monitor updates from the National Hurricane Center prior to your trip. This NWS division tracks and forecasts tropical weather, issuing hurricane alerts and updates on conditions across the Atlantic Ocean up to 48 hours in advance.

Even if the weather forecast shows no hurricanes, you might still encounter rain and challenging weather at your destination. Be ready by bringing your best waterproof luggage, packing a rain jacket, and considering a dry bag, like those from Sea to Summit, to protect essentials like your camera and wallet while you're out and about.

Top Caribbean Destinations During Hurricane Season

The southern Caribbean islands closest to South America generally experience fewer storms and are often regarded as the best places to visit during hurricane season. These include:

• Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, renowned for their world-class scuba diving, collectively referred to as the ABC Islands
• Barbados, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of its capital, Bridgetown
• Trinidad and Tobago, famous for its vibrant music and culture
• Grenada, celebrated for its beaches and rum distilleries, located off the coast of Venezuela and outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

While not an island, the Central American nation of Belize, which has a coastline along the Caribbean Sea, is another viable option in the area, as its location offers relative protection from severe hurricane activity.

Visiting the Caribbean from June to November is more budget-friendly

If you're open to traveling during this period, you can look forward to lower hotel rates and fewer tourists. While airlines and hotels don’t specifically advertise “hurricane rates,” this shoulder season can be among the most economical times to explore the Caribbean, with plenty of flight deals and discounted resort offers available. (Some locals even take advantage of these deals for their own travel within the Caribbean.)

To stay updated on flight deals, consider setting up an alert on Google Flights or subscribing to a deal newsletter like Going, which frequently shares affordable flight options to the Caribbean and beyond.

Although many hotels shut down for regular maintenance for a few weeks or months, they remain open for most of the season—be on the lookout for fall promotions.

Purchase travel insurance before your trip

If things take a turn for the worse, it’s wise to be prepared. Invest in travel insurance that covers NOAA warnings and alerts for tropical storms. Most policies will also reimburse you for cancellations if your destination becomes uninhabitable, provided you bought the insurance before a hurricane or tropical storm was named. Websites like InsureMyTrip.com, which offers a broad selection, and TravelInsurance.com, which provides more curated options, allow you to compare and find the best travel insurance plans. Coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions due to bad weather and natural disasters, whether at home or abroad, is included in World Nomads’ standard and premium “explorer” plans.

According to Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com, getting travel insurance is a crucial precaution and is often more affordable than many believe. “You can secure quality coverage for about the same cost as a nice dinner out during your vacation,” Sandberg notes.

While prices differ based on destination, trip expenses, desired benefits, and travelers’ ages and locations, travel insurance typically ranges from 3 to 10 percent of the trip cost—around $100 or $200 for a couple planning a $2,000 getaway.

Think about booking a cruise

Cruise lines will adjust their routes upon receiving storm alerts, ensuring that your vacation remains largely unaffected by unforeseen weather, unless you were set on a specific island. Options for Caribbean cruises range from luxurious small ships like Silversea, Seabourn, and Azamara to larger vessels from Celebrity, Carnival, and NCL.

What to do if a hurricane approaches

If you've booked a trip without travel insurance and a hurricane strikes, don’t panic. “In the Caribbean, we’re well-versed in handling storm impacts. We know when any system develops and can predict their estimated arrival times with reasonable accuracy,” says Johnson JohnRose, former communications specialist for the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Local authorities and hotels closely monitor storm progress and have comprehensive plans for evacuating or sheltering guests.

If a serious storm is on the horizon, hotels and airlines frequently allow guests to cancel or change their plans without fees. Inquire about policies when booking your travel, and if a storm seems imminent, check again for your options. “We often hear of increased guest satisfaction during storms,” notes Comito from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. “Guests are well taken care of by the resort and staff.”

This article was first published in 2015 and was most recently updated on June 19, 2024, to reflect current information. Contributions to this story were made by Jessie Beck and Erika Owen.