Jamaica Bracing for Hurricane Season 2026: What You Need to Know

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Alright, mi people, hurricane season is right around the corner. Starting June 1, the Atlantic gets busy, and the Met Office is already sounding the alarm. They’re saying this year could be a rough one — we’re looking at 17 to 20 named storms, and up to 5 of those could be major hurricanes. Yeah, you heard that right.

Dr. Michael Thompson, the big man at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, held a press briefing Monday and made it plain: from June through November, we’re in the danger zone. August and September? That’s when things really heat up. “We can’t afford to get too comfortable,” he said. “Last year showed us that even a little tropical depression can turn your life upside down with flooding and damage.”

Last season was pretty quiet for us here in Jamaica. But 2026? It’s shaping up to be a whole different story. The ocean is warmer than usual, and a La Niña pattern is brewing — that’s a recipe for storms to pop up in the Caribbean.

Take it from Claudette Brown, a shopkeeper in Port Antonio. She’s not playing around. “Mi nuh tek nuh chance. From June, mi start buy batteries, candles, and extra food. When the storm come, you nuh want be running to the shop,” she told HowJamaica.com. Smart woman.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is begging us to get our disaster kits ready. We’re talking at least seven days of food, water, and medicine. They also want you to trim those trees, tie down anything loose in the yard, and know your evacuation route. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Remember Hurricane Beryl last year? That one tore through the eastern parishes — St. Thomas and Portland got it bad. The government has since put aside $500 million to fix up drainage and beef up emergency shelters across the island. So they’re trying.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness himself said the administration is taking this seriously. “We’re putting money into early warning systems and community response teams. But at the end of the day, the first line of defense is every Jamaican family being ready,” he said.

Farmers, listen up. This one’s for you. The Ministry of Agriculture is telling planters to harvest early crops and secure livestock. Over in St. Elizabeth, farmers are already moving poultry and small stock to higher ground. No joke.

So what can you do right now? Start small. Grab a first aid kit. Check your insurance policy — make sure it’s up to date. Look at your roof; is it solid? Talk to your family about where to meet if you get separated. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune — just a little planning can save lives.

Keep your eyes on HowJamaica.com for the latest updates as we track these storms. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Stay safe, Jamaica.

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