When is Hurricane Season in the Bahamas

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The Bahamas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With over 700 islands forming a beautiful archipelago, enchanting beaches, and mouth-watering cuisines, the Bahamas is one place avid travelers long to visit in their lifetimes.

Even so, the Bahamas is one place wrought with hurricanes. Finding out when it’s likely to experience hurricanes is necessary for anyone planning to visit the islands. Let’s guide you:

When is Hurricane Season in the Bahamas?

Hurricane season in the Bahamas starts in early June (1st June) to late fall (30th November). The season tends to peak in fall, with the months most likely to experience intense hurricane activity being August, September, and October.

The hurricanes are often accompanied by heavy rainfall, recording precipitation of 215 mm, especially in August. However, you can still play around with the dates and the weather and enjoy your vacation in the Bahamas. You only need to find out the best time to visit the islands and prepare adequately.

Typically, the winter season (mid-December- April) is the busiest as the weather is more favorable, with less likelihood of experiencing hurricanes. Before looking at ways you can prepare for the hurricane season, we need to understand how a hurricane forms and its history in the Bahamas.

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane forms when warm ocean waters evaporate, creating a void in the ocean. Cool air fills the space, initiating a cycle. As the process repeats itself, the swirling air gains momentum, causing fierce hurricanes and storms that damage property. Hurricanes take a long time to develop, sometimes days or even weeks.

However, sometimes they’re fast-forming and unexpected. They can go from non-existent to fully formed hurricanes in less than a day. The Bahamas is particularly prone to hurricanes because it lies in one of the four zones of the Atlantic Ocean (the coast of Cape Verde, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Western Caribbean Sea).

Tropical storms hit the region more than the surrounding countries (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Trinidad), and The Bahamas experiences hurricanes affecting other nearby regions. For example, a hurricane that hits Florida is likely to affect the Bahamas.

Hurricane History in the Bahamas

The Bahamas has a long history of hurricanes dating back to 1852. The hurricane hit the southernmost part of the Bahamian Archipelago but had minimal damage to the town.

Nearly two decades later (1871), another hurricane struck the northernmost part of the archipelago, killing up to 23 people. It was one of the major hurricanes known to have occurred in the Bahamas.

Another major hurricane occurred in 1926. Dubbed the Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1926 or San Liborio hurricane, the hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane and was incredibly destructive to the Bahamian capital, Nassau, and New Providence island.

Two years later, the Okeechobee hurricane hit the Bahamas, not only destroying property but also causing the death of 106-406 people. It was the strongest hurricane ever recorded until Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane that killed over 70 people.

The hurricane was so fierce it had wind gusts of over 220 mph, sustained winds of 185 mph, and a barometric pressure of 910 millibars. Other hurricanes that have hit the Bahamas include:

The Great Abaco Hurricane (1932): The category five hurricane happened in 1932, killing more than a dozen people and injuring hundreds
Hurricane Betsy (1965): It was a category 4 hurricane believed to have caused damages of up to $14 million
Hurricane Andrew (1992): This Category 5 hurricane is among the most destructive hurricanes that ever happened in the Bahamas. Although it weakened to Category 4 while navigating the archipelago, it destroyed many homes in the Bahamas.
Hurricane Floyd (1999): The Category 4 hurricane was characterized by winds of up to 155 mph and waves that toppled over communication and power lines. San Salvador Island, Abaco Islands, Eleuthera Island, and Cat Island experienced the greatest damage
Hurricane Katrina (2005): Although it was a Category 5 hurricane, it didn’t cause much damage
Hurricane Irma (2017): It was a Category 5 hurricane that damaged many homes, knocked out communication lines and power lines

Areas More Likely to Experience Hurricanes in the Bahamas

Part of your preparation includes finding out areas that are most likely to experience hurricanes in the Bahamas. Note that the geographical nature of the Bahamas (an archipelago towering over 700 islands) makes some regions more vulnerable to hurricanes than others.

The Northern Bahamas is particularly prone to these occurrences because it’s the first place to be hit by hurricanes. This means islands around Central Abaco, the East and West of Grand Bahama, and Andros are hurricane-prone.

The Abaco islands are even labeled The Hurricane Capital of the World because they experience many hurricanes. This doesn’t mean the central and southern regions don’t experience hurricanes; they can, too, when a storm follows a different path.

The 2015 Hurricane Joaquin is an excellent example. Although it was a Category 4 storm, it killed 34 people, destroyed 836 homes, and affected over 7000 people. Islands located farther to the south, Mayaguana and Inagua, for example, have experienced fewer hits than any other region.

Tips to Get Ready for Hurricane Season in the Bahamas

Hurricane preparation is critical for anyone planning to visit the Bahamas. Here are some handy tips:

Have an Evacuation Plan

You want to have an evacuation plan in place in case a storm hits your resort, hotel, or home. If staying at a resort, ask if the management has an evacuation plan for its guests. Since planes won’t be an option during a hurricane, find out if there’s a safe house for guests. Also, have emergency contact numbers and police station phone numbers available.

Plan for Communication Breakdown

Communication and power lines are disrupted during hurricanes in the Bahamas, sometimes leaving citizens off-grid for days. You can prepare for such scenarios by looking for alternative communication media, e.g., a walkie-talkie, battery-operated radios, a satellite phone, or VHFs.

Stock up on Supplies

It’s important to stock up on supplies to last a few days during the hurricane season. The first thing you must have an adequate supply is water. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends having a gallon of water per day per person for at least three days.

You must also stock up on non-perishable foods like dry cereal, canned fruits, canned beans, and canned pasta. If storing perishable foods, you want to have a cooler in place to prevent them from going bad.

Backup power sources like the Bluetti AC300 + 1*B300 | Home Battery Backup also come in handy to help you charge phones and other electronics. And if staying in a safe house for a few days, you want to add a gas stove to your emergency supplies to help you prepare meals.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Another essential supply you must add is an emergency kit. Carry a waterproof knapsack to store crucial documents like birth certificates, passports, and other valuables. Also, an emergency kit with a flashlight, first aid supplies, medication, and extra batteries is necessary.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Season in the Bahamas

Tourists planning to visit the Bahamas must prepare adequately for the hurricane season. This means keeping up-to-date with the weather reports and planning ahead of time. Consider taking out a travel insurance policy covering hurricane disruptions. Many resorts put up hurricane contingency plans, but it would help to be prepared.

Conclusion

The islands are, without a doubt, a great place to visit. However, you must prepare adequately for eventualities such as hurricanes or other unpleasant weather, especially if visiting during the hurricane season. It starts in June and ends in November, with heightened hurricane activity between August and October. With the tips discussed above, you’re confident you won’t get stranded.

When is Hurricane Season in the Bahamas