Bah! Hurricane Season 2026 Set to Rock Jamaica – We Must Prepare Now

Kingston, Jamaica – The Met Office is sounding the alarm, mi friends. Hurricane season 2026 is coming, and from what the forecasters are saying, we in for a rough ride. They predict up to 18 named storms, with 9 of those turning into hurricanes – and at least 4 could be major ones, Category 3 and above. That’s more than usual, yes.

I spoke with Senior Meteorologist at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Dr. Pauline Grant, who told me, “We are looking at above-normal activity this year. The warm sea surface temperatures and the La Niña pattern are creating perfect conditions for storms to develop. We need to start preparing now, not when the first warning comes.”

The season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, but already, the first named storm – Tropical Storm Alex – could form as early as mid-May, according to some models. That’s earlier than we normally see.

Now, I went down to the market in May Pen and spoke with Miss Ivy, who sells fresh produce. She tell me: “We have enough to worry with the price of everything going up. If a hurricane come, it mash up the crops, and we can’t afford that. The Government must do better with the drains and the shelters. We can’t have people dying in flood again.”

And she right. In 2025, we saw heavy flooding in St. Elizabeth and Portland that left many homeless. The National Works Agency say they have cleared over 200 kilometres of drains already, but residents say it’s not enough.

What you can do now: Start stocking supplies – water, canned food, batteries, first aid kit. Check your roof and windows. Make sure your insurance is up to date. Also, know your local shelter and have a family emergency plan. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Stay tuned to HowJamaica.com for updates as the season progresses. Remember, we are in this together.