You don’t want a particularly dangerous hurricane season to dampen your vacation plans. Instead of disappointing your family during the trip, it pays to prepare yourself for the 2024 hurricane season, which forecasters are predicting will be much stronger than usual.

When is hurricane season this year? Hurricane season occurs between June 1 to November 30 in 2024, according to the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane season this year, citing warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean.

That’s something to keep in mind, for people wondering, “When is hurricane season in Florida or the Caribbean?” And if your travels take you south of the border, causing you to ask, “When is hurricane season in Mexico?” be aware that hurricanes there will likely be more intense than usual too, because of NOAA’s predicted strong La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean this year.

What’s more, NOAA forecasts a potentially stronger West African monsoon in 2024, which tends to create east-moving waves that seed powerful Atlantic storms.

The Weather Network reports that meteorologists from Colorado State University anticipate six major hurricanes (whose wind speeds will exceed 178 kilometres per hour or 111 miles per hour.) CSU predicts a total of 12 hurricanes in 2024, compared to the average of 7.2 per year between 1991-2020.

As many Canadians prefer to travel in late summer and into the fall because of smaller crowds and less expensive flights, it’s crucial that you prepare for potential hurricanes that could impact your trip.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you make the most of your vacation and avoid problems from devastating storm conditions.

  • Aim to travel in populated areas: If a hurricane hits your destination, it would be better if you were in a relatively large population center with more resources, rather than in a remote location with fewer services.
  • Use the trip registry: Register your trip with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. It’s free to sign up. The government will contact you if a major disaster like a hurricane occurs, as noted by Global Affairs Canada.
  • Get advisories: Look up your destination on the Canadian government’s official website for Travel Advice and Advisories when you first plan your trip. Check it again just prior to your scheduled departure, to ensure it’s still safe to travel to your vacation spot during hurricane season.

It’s not enough to simply know when hurricane season is. You also want the latest updates about the precise days you’ll be on holiday.

  • Give copies of your travel documents to a trusted friend or relative: In addition to email and phone numbers, include details about your holiday itinerary, cruise ships, flights and hotel accommodations. Make sure to provide your tour company’s contact information too.
  • Get insurance: Savvy travelers aware of when is hurricane season will arrange for Trip Cancellation Insurance. Doing so gives you the peace of mind that you’ll be covered in case a hurricane strikes during your holiday.
  • Pack extra medication: In case a hurricane delays your return home, bring extra medication (instead of just enough for the scheduled duration of your trip.)
  • Stay connected: While travelling, keep in contact by phone, text or email with friends and relatives, to keep them apprised of your location.
  • Bring power: Remember that electrical lines may be offline during a hurricane, so pack some backup battery chargers to keep your phone powered when you need to connect with your loved ones.
  • Keep watching the skies: Don’t become complacent during hurricane season. Tune into weather reports every day, in case authorities issue storm advisories or warnings about severe weather conditions.

The last thing you’d want is to save up all year for a nice holiday, only to have plans disrupted by a major disaster like a hurricane. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to avoid potential problems.

Knowing when hurricane season is before you make holiday plans is prudent for tourists from Canada heading to hurricane-prone areas like the U.S., Mexico, or the Caribbean.

By looking up your destination on Travel Advice and Advisories, paying attention to weather alerts from news reports and staying in touch with loved ones about your location and situation, you’ll be in a better position to have a happy and safe vacation in the face of potential hurricanes.