Caribbean hurricane season: when and where

YesTrip editorial team · Updated: 25 October 2026

In short

The Atlantic hurricane season, which covers the Caribbean, officially runs from 1 June to 30 November; most storms form between mid-August and mid-October, with the statistical peak around 10 September. December to April is the safest and driest time. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie south of the main hurricane belt – Aruba has not been hit directly since records began in 1851.

Plan this trip now

If you are planning a holiday in the Caribbean, sooner or later you will read the word hurricane. The short answer: the official hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. Most storms come between mid-August and mid-October, with the peak around 10 September. From December to April the risk is very low – and this is also the dry season on most islands. If you want to travel in summer or autumn, the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) in the far south are the safest choice.

Caribbean hurricane season at a glance

Period	Hurricane risk	What it means for your trip
December – April	very low	main season, driest weather, highest prices
May	low	warm, first showers, often good value
June – July	low to moderate	season has started, storms possible but less frequent
mid-August – mid-October	highest	peak of the season, most storms, check forecasts closely
late October – November	moderate, falling	season ending, still wet on many islands

Source for the season and its peak: the US National Hurricane Center. Storms can also form outside the official season, but that is rare.

The important point is that a hurricane affects a small area for a few days. Even in September, most days on most islands are not hurricane days. But if a storm does come, flights are cancelled, hotels close and a trip can be lost – and that is far more likely between mid-August and mid-October than in February.

Which islands are safest in hurricane season?

Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie off the coast of Venezuela, south of the paths most hurricanes take. Aruba's tourist board points to the Atlantic hurricane database: the island has not been hit directly by a hurricane since 1851. Storms passing further north can still bring a day of showers or calm winds.

Barbados and the other islands of the far south-east (such as Trinidad and Tobago) are on the southern edge of the hurricane zone and are hit less often than the islands further north – but not never.

The northern and western Caribbean – the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands – lies in the main tracks of Atlantic storms. Here the season matters most when you book.

Eagle Beach on Aruba, south of the main hurricane belt · Photo: Ginelly.Q, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rain by month: five Caribbean destinations

Hurricane season overlaps with the rainy season on most islands. The table shows the average monthly rainfall for five popular places.

Month	Punta Cana	Havana	Montego Bay	Bridgetown	Oranjestad
January	63 mm	42 mm	53 mm	33 mm	35 mm
February	64 mm	27 mm	53 mm	25 mm	29 mm
March	57 mm	22 mm	68 mm	28 mm	28 mm
April	78 mm	36 mm	95 mm	27 mm	15 mm
May	114 mm	92 mm	195 mm	29 mm	20 mm
June	93 mm	133 mm	137 mm	58 mm	24 mm
July	119 mm	83 mm	104 mm	86 mm	33 mm
August	142 mm	117 mm	140 mm	103 mm	32 mm
September	150 mm	125 mm	165 mm	112 mm	40 mm
October	142 mm	92 mm	196 mm	106 mm	62 mm
November	191 mm	53 mm	113 mm	101 mm	115 mm
December	75 mm	42 mm	65 mm	46 mm	54 mm

Rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo), rounded. The values describe a grid cell of about 25 km and can differ from a weather station on the beach.

Punta Cana (Dominican Republic): rain per month

It stays warm all year: in Punta Cana daytime highs are between 26.8 °C in January and 29.9 °C in September, in Bridgetown between 27.9 and 29.9 °C. Rain in the tropics usually comes as short, heavy showers in the afternoon, not as grey days – but from August to November there are noticeably more of them. Aruba stays dry almost all year, with the most rain in November.

The Malecón in Havana, Cuba · Photo: Ezarate This is a retouched picture , which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifica, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Should you travel to the Caribbean in hurricane season?

It can work, especially in June, July and November, when the risk is lower than at the peak and hotels are cheaper. A few rules make it calmer:

Choose the place well: in August to October, the ABC islands are the safest bet. Barbados is a good second choice.
Watch the forecast: the National Hurricane Center publishes a tropical weather outlook for the next seven days. A storm rarely surprises anyone completely; you usually know days ahead.
Book flexibly: check the cancellation and rebooking terms of your flight and hotel before you pay. Airlines often allow rebooking when a hurricane is forecast for your destination.
Read official travel advice: the UK Foreign Office and the German Federal Foreign Office publish advice for each country, including what to do in a hurricane.
Stay reachable: local alerts and airline messages come by text or app. With a travel eSIM, for example an eSIM for the Dominican Republic^* from Airalo, you have data from landing without expensive roaming.
Follow local instructions: if a hurricane warning is issued, hotels and authorities tell you where to go. Do not try to drive or swim during a storm.

The coast at Negril in Jamaica · Photo: VV Nincic from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Best time for the Caribbean

For most islands, the best time is December to April: dry, sunny, warm and outside hurricane season. It is also the high season, with the highest prices around Christmas, New Year and Easter. May and June are a good compromise – still mostly dry in the south, quieter and cheaper. Only the ABC islands can be recommended without reservations all year round.

If you are also considering Mexico or Florida: Cancún and the Riviera Maya, and Florida itself, share the same Atlantic hurricane season. Our articles on the best time to visit Mexico and the best time to visit Florida have the weather data for both. More warm places for the winter months are in warm places in December.

How YesTrip helps you plan

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Frequently asked questions

When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?

The Atlantic hurricane season, which includes the Caribbean, officially runs from 1 June to 30 November. Most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October, and the statistical peak is around 10 September.

What is the safest month to travel to the Caribbean?

December to April are the safest months, with a very low risk of hurricanes and the driest weather on most islands. February and March are especially reliable.

Which Caribbean islands are outside the hurricane belt?

Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie south of the main hurricane tracks. According to Aruba's tourist board, Aruba has not been hit directly by a hurricane since records began in 1851. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are on the southern edge and are hit less often than the islands further north.

Is it safe to travel to the Caribbean in September?

September is the peak of hurricane season, so the risk is highest then. Many trips go ahead without problems, but you should choose a southern island such as Aruba, book flexible flights and hotels and watch the forecast of the National Hurricane Center.

Is November a good time for the Caribbean?

The second half of November is usually calm, as the season is ending, and prices are lower than in December. On some islands, such as Punta Cana and Aruba, November is one of the wettest months, so expect showers.

Sources

NOAA National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology, season dates and peak – www.nhc.noaa.gov
NOAA National Hurricane Center: tropical weather outlook – www.nhc.noaa.gov
Aruba Tourism Authority: Aruba hurricane season – www.aruba.com
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: foreign travel advice – www.gov.uk
Open-Meteo: historical weather data (ERA5) – open-meteo.com

Researched with AI support and checked by our editors. Prices, opening hours and weather can change – please check before you go. YesTrip is not a travel agency. Published: 25 October 2026.