Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs through November 30, with a peak activity period from late August through September. So if you’re considering taking advantage of shoulder-season resorts or cruise deals in the Caribbean this year, you’d be smart to keep the forecast for hurricane season 2019 in mind and weigh the risk versus the reward—plus travel insurance.
Here’s what travelers need to know.
The Hurricane Season Forecast
Overall, two recent hurricane forecasts for the 2019 season conclude that this year is likely to show activity close to the average hurricane season, which typically has close to the same number of extreme weather occurrences we saw in 2018. A study by Colorado State University predicts 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher); three to seven hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher); and one to three major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or higher). AccuWeather predicts 12 to 14 storms, five to seven hurricanes, and two to four major hurricanes.
Related: 5 Common Travel Insurance Questions, Answered Higher-Risk Destinations
According to AccuWeather’s map, areas in the U.S. in the “high” and “highest” risk categories run from the New Orleans area along the Gulf Coast, around and across the entire state of Florida, and up the Atlantic Coast as far North as Delaware. Riskiest areas in the Caribbean and nearby include western Cuba, the northern Bahamas, and the northern tip of Yucatan. According to the same map, the low risk areas include much of Hispaniola, the Leeward Caribbean Islands, and the Leeward Antilles from Aruba to Trinidad. For more recommendations, see The 5 Best Beach Vacations During Hurricane Season.
A Disclaimer
Even though 2019 is likely to be statistically close to average, nobody has a clue as to just how likely or when one of those half-dozen hurricanes could turn into “the big one.” Even in a supposedly low-risk hurricane season, no one knows when an rare but extreme weather situation could occur. They often do without any warning.
The Insurance
If you’re considering a cruise or resort holiday to an at-risk area that requires substantial down payments (read: cancellation penalties), trip-cancellation insurance (TCI) can protect you. But you have to make sure any policy specifically lists “hurricanes” as a “covered reason” for kicking in the benefits. Or, get a policy that includes a “cancel for any reason” option.
For full protection, buy the insurance early, within a week or two of the time you make your first payment, for two reasons. First, on many policies, early purchase waives exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions. Second, you have to buy before a specific hurricane has been predicted or named.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
You can’t escape the orange. That’s what travelers this summer have been reckoning with — swaths of tangerine, traffic cone and burnt sienna on maps indicating record high temperatures around the globe. Four concurrent heat domes from the southern United States to East Asia descended on millions — Phoenix residents enduring 31 days of 110-degree-plus temperatures. Italians in more than a dozen cities under extreme weather warnings. And in South Korea, at least 125 people were hospitalized for heat-related conditions at the World Scout Jamboree.
Green fields and hills give Ireland its “Emerald Isle” nickname. But with nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, rivers, and lakes, the island nation is also awash in blue. Rounding out all that unspoiled nature are ancient castles, historic villages, and pubs alive with traditional music. Here’s the best way to experience this colorful corner of Europe.
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines will launch flights to Puerto Rico this fall, marking the airline’s first-ever Caribbean destination and its latest expansion plans.
For most travelers, entering the vast diversity of Ecuador’s Cuatro Mundos ("Four Worlds": the Pacific Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galápagos) requires nothing more than arriving with your passport.
Late last year, I was itching to leave my hometown of Los Angeles and booked a short trip to the East Coast. But, as soon as I boarded my return flight, I realized I couldn't wait to get back home.
Each season brings something different to Denver, whether it’s glittering snow in winter or vibrant foliage in autumn. Perched at 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City’s weather is one of the primary considerations for deciding when to visit — though Denver also offers plenty to do indoors if Mother Nature is not cooperating.
Researchers in Connecticut are warning that tick populations are on the rise this year, so you need to be especially vigilant—not just at home, but also while traveling. If your trips take you anywhere within North America, Europe, or Asia, you could be at risk for ticks and the many diseases they cause.
This summer, Norwegian plans to fly from New York to Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Shannon—and for these flights, “New York” means Stewart International Airport (SWF), also called Stewart Field.