Travelers from the United States may be barred from Europe for the foreseeable future, but there’s one silver lining: Dozens of Caribbean islands are welcoming Americans with open arms. While travelers are right to be excited, there’s one fact that bears remembering: It’s hurricane season, and because 2020 is the gift that keeps on giving, it’s supposed to be a particularly bad one.
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The Caribbean Is Reopening Right in the Middle of Hurricane Season
Typically, hurricane season in the Caribbean lasts from early June to late November. The New York Times reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that the 2020 hurricane season could be worse than usual. The NOAA forecasts between 13 and 19 named storms, including three to six major hurricanes greater than Category 3.
The Caribbean has experienced above-average storm levels since 1995 due to warmer ocean temperatures, weaker trade winds, and other factors. Even though hurricane season isn’t typically the height of tourist activity for the Caribbean, the region needs tourism during these turbulent months to salvage economies reeling from COVID-19.
Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of tourism for the US Virgin Islands, told the Times, “We’re hoping to get going June, July and August to give the economy an injection we need and then hopefully get through hurricane season.”
So if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean this summer, keep an eye on the weather. 