Active tracking
No named systems are currently threatening Cayman waters.
The Weather Desk monitors National Hurricane Center advisories continuously and will surface any watch, warning or advisory for the Cayman Islands at the top of this page as soon as it is issued.
Climatology by month
September is the climatological peak of the Atlantic season. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals show an average of 4.6 named storms, 2.7 hurricanes and 1.4 major hurricanes in September alone — more than the rest of the season combined.
Cayman historical impacts
Storms with a documented direct strike or substantial impact on one of the three Cayman islands since the modern record began.
| Storm | Date | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert (1988) | September 12, 1988 | Cat 5 | Brushed Grand Cayman as a Cat-5 with 175 mph winds; widespread roof and tree damage, no fatalities reported on-island. |
| Mitch (1998) | October 26, 1998 | Cat 5 | Stalled south of Grand Cayman; tropical-storm conditions, heavy rainfall and flooding before tracking on to Honduras. |
| Michelle (2001) | November 4, 2001 | Cat 4 | Tropical-storm-force winds and storm surge on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as the Cat-4 passed to the north. |
| Ivan (2004) | September 11–12, 2004 | Cat 5 | Direct strike on Grand Cayman as a Cat-5; ~70% of homes damaged or destroyed, prolonged power and water outages, two confirmed fatalities. |
| Dennis (2005) | July 8, 2005 | Cat 4 | Brushed Grand Cayman as a Cat-1 strengthening to Cat-4; significant coastal flooding and beach erosion on the south coast. |
| Paloma (2008) | November 8, 2008 | Cat 4 | Direct strike on Cayman Brac as a Cat-4; severe damage to roughly 70% of structures on the Brac, no fatalities. |
Preparedness checklist
- Build a hurricane kit: at least three days of non-perishable food and one gallon of water per person per day, plus pet supplies.
- Stock emergency supplies: torch, batteries, first-aid kit, prescription medication, cash in small denominations, and copies of identification and insurance documents in a sealed bag.
- Know your evacuation route and the nearest HMCI-designated shelter — particularly if you live in a coastal flood zone or in a wood-frame structure.
- Review your household and contents insurance before 1 June. Confirm the named-storm deductible and photograph your home, room by room, for loss adjusters.
- Secure or store outdoor items 48 hours before landfall: garden furniture, planters, bins, propane tanks, sails and tenders. Loose objects become projectiles in 100 mph winds.
- Fill vehicle fuel tanks and test your generator while electricity is still available; queues at the pump and at the hardware store grow long once a watch is issued.
- Sign up for mobile alerts from HMCI and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, and bookmark the National Hurricane Center cone on nhc.noaa.gov.
- Keep a battery- or hand-crank-powered NOAA weather radio. When power and cellular networks fail — as they did for weeks after Ivan — radio is the last line.
Frequently asked questions
When does Atlantic hurricane season start and end?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June through 30 November, with the National Hurricane Center monitoring tropical activity year-round. For the Cayman Islands, the season is most relevant from August through October.
What is the peak month for hurricanes in the Cayman Islands?
September is the climatological peak, both for the Atlantic basin overall and for storms that historically affect the Cayman Islands. NOAA 1991–2020 normals show 4.6 named storms and 2.7 hurricanes on average in September alone.
How does evacuation work in the Cayman Islands during a hurricane?
Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) coordinates emergency response. Designated hurricane shelters open when a hurricane warning is issued. Residents on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman may be advised to evacuate to Grand Cayman; Grand Cayman residents in low-lying coastal areas are directed to inland shelters.
What insurance considerations matter for Cayman homeowners?
Standard household policies in the Cayman Islands typically include named-storm cover with a percentage deductible (commonly 2 %–5 % of insured value) rather than a flat sum. Review your policy before 1 June each year, confirm the deductible basis, and document the contents of your home with photographs in case of loss.
What building code applies to new construction?
Post-Ivan, the Cayman Islands adopted updated building regulations requiring designs that withstand sustained winds of 150 mph or more, hurricane-rated shutters or impact glazing on openings, and elevated finished-floor levels in defined flood zones. Permits are issued by the Department of Planning.
Where can I get official storm alerts?
Official advisories are issued by the National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov) and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Public warnings, shelter information and curfew updates are coordinated by Hazard Management Cayman Islands. The Cayman Journal Weather Desk surfaces active alerts at the top of this page when issued.
Why we keep this page
Hurricane season is the one stretch of the Cayman calendar during which the weather stops being background. Construction schedules, port closures, school holidays and even insurance renewals all bend to the cone. The Weather Desk maintains this page so that when an advisory is issued there is a single, on-record reference — pulled from the same NHC and Cayman Islands National Weather Service feeds that emergency services rely on.
If something on this page disagrees with an official notice from Hazard Management Cayman Islands, follow the official notice and write to us.