The Caribbean Islands and other tropical destinations are travel hot spots for their enjoyable weather and relaxing beaches, but they are also a popular spot for hurricanes during the summer and fall.
Discover where to stay for a beach destination with less threat to hurricanes. Become familiar with the science behind hurricanes and the terminology used to identify them. Also, consider these tips for travel during hurricane season to ensure you’re prepared for a weather emergency.
A hurricane, also known as a tropical cyclone, is a “rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts (a boundary separating two air masses of different densities),” according to the National Ocean Service.
There are three types of tropical cyclones:
Hurricanes usually occur in areas with a warm and moist atmosphere over tropical ocean waters. They originate in one of three locations:
Hurricanes are most common during the hurricane season, though they can happen any time of the year.
Hurricane season typically peaks between August and October, so be extra vigilant when traveling to tropical destinations during these times.
The National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center uses a scale known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to measure hurricanes. This is a 1-5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed in order to estimate the potential property damage.
Consider the rating system to determine your response to a hurricane.
Sources providing information regarding hurricanes, like news reports and weather apps, will often use terms like “advisory,” “watch,” or “warning” to describe the current weather situation for a location.
Here is what each of those terms means:
Hurricanes, like other natural disasters and severe weather conditions, can often impact travel plans.
Hurricanes can pose a risk to travelers staying in destinations where a hurricane is intended to hit. Major hazards associated with hurricanes include storm surges, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, high winds, rip currents, and tornados.
Power outages and impacts to other utilities are very likely during hurricanes, as strong winds pull down power lines and damage buildings and homes.
Delays or cancellations of flights or cruises are common for destinations predicted to be impacted by a hurricane.
Public transportation and other commuter travel may be delayed prior to a storm due to an influx of people leaving an at-risk area. Transportation may be damaged, closed, or delayed during the storm as well.
Accommodations, restaurants, and tourist attractions may close in preparation for severe weather. Damage to these attractions can lead to extended closures.
Not every beach destination is doomed to be impacted by hurricanes. Those wishing to travel to the sunny tropics during the hurricane season can consider these destinations, which are less likely to be impacted by hurricanes.
Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are the westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. Commonly referred to as the ABC Islands, they are considered safer Caribbean destinations during the hurricane season because there is only about one hurricane every 30 years.
The last hurricane to hit Aruba was Hurricane Felix in 2007. This Level 2 hurricane only caused minor damage, including a small number of uprooted palm trees, some beach erosion, and other damages you could attribute to a bad rainstorm. Aruba’s local authorities also have a good track record of informing locals and visitors of any hurricane risks.
Direct hurricane hits to Bonaire are also uncommon. It, too, only experienced minor damage from Hurricane Felix. The most damage was found in the coral reefs as surveyed by local marine park workers. Bonaire prides itself on its nature preservation and conservation.
Though the island doesn’t often take a direct hit from hurricanes, it makes every effort to protect its vulnerable wildlife from even the smallest of storms.
The last time a hurricane directly hit Curaçao was 1877. Other nearby hurricanes have only caused flooding. The island tends to get warmer during the hurricane season with less wind, but this is also a reason why hurricanes are infrequent.
Curaçao offers more urban scenery, while Aruba and Bonaire have a more traditional island feel. All three islands feature miles of sandy beaches with hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
Another country south of the hurricane belt in the tropics, Panama boasts long stretches of coast on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Though the country sees few hurricanes, the summer and fall are considered the wet season. This means brief rain showers in the afternoon are typical (as is the case for many tropical destinations).
Panama has no known history of hurricanes. The storm closest to a hurricane was Hurricane Martha, which dropped from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm before making landfall in 1969. The storm brought no significant damage to the country. It remains the closest call in Panama’s history.
Though the islands of Hawaii sit in the central Pacific where multiple hurricanes appear each year, rarely do they impact this nation. Only a few hurricanes on record have directly hit the Hawaiian Islands, while most tend to lose strength beforehand.
Hawaii's pleasant weather all year long attracts both national and international travel. High-end accommodations have recently populated the island, but many affordable options remain for travelers not wanting to push their budget too far.
The Yucatan Peninsula and other Mexican regions on the Gulf of Mexico see frequent hurricanes, but the west coast is considered generally safe. Mexico’s west coast has cooler water temperatures, making it less susceptible to hurricanes. (Hurricanes almost always form over water warmer than 80 degrees F.)
Mexico offers many popular beach destinations on its western coast, including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Acapulco, Huatulco, and Iztapa.
Those traveling in and around the tropics during the hurricane season need to take extra precautions to ensure their safety during their travels. Consider these tips when planning your trip.
Up-to-date information will allow you to make the best decisions while traveling. Consider these three sources for accurate and updated information on hurricanes and how they may affect your travel.
Those wanting to protect their travel investment should consider purchasing a travel insurance policy. A travel insurance policy can provide financial reimbursement for a canceled trip and travel assistance in the case of unforeseen weather emergencies like a hurricane.
REMEMBER! Many insurance policies do not provide cancellation coverage if you purchase after a hurricane has already been identified. Check the National Hurricane Center website for accurate and updated information on new hurricanes and their potential path of impact.
Look for these benefits in your travel insurance plan:
Worried about something happening that forces you to cancel your trip? Consider adding a Trip Cancellation for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit to your travel insurance plan. This benefit reimburses you for a portion of your prepaid expenses if you must cancel your trip for any reason not otherwise covered by your plan. Many travel insurance policies provide this coverage as an optional upgrade. Keep in mind, there is often a purchase timeframe stipulation for this coverage.
Atlas Journey travel insurance plans offer an optional Trip Cancellation for Any Reason benefit upgrade. This benefit will reimburse you for 50% - 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses (accommodations, airfare, etc.) in the event you cancel for a reason not otherwise covered by your plan. This coverage applies to cancellations two days or more before your scheduled departure date.
Hurricanes can be dangerous and unpredictable. They can veer off course and cause a serious threat to those who thought they were in the clear.
Prepare for the unexpected and be aware of potential weather threats when traveling to a tropical destination so you can make the best decisions for you and your fellow travelers.