Travelers who are planning to countries in the Caribbean, South America, or the Southern portion of the United States will probably see the warnings that advise travelers to avoid these areas during hurricane season. But when exactly is that? And what just sort of storm are we talking about here?
Image Credit: Kabsik Park via Flickr and CC 2.0
Also known as typhoons or cyclones in other portions of the world, hurricanes are nothing more than giant, whirling vortexes comprised of speedy winds and heavy rain. While that description may make them sound innocuous, these monsters are anything but that. Even storm systems with the lowest possible ratings can pose a substantial threat to people’s properties, if not their very life. So clearly, they are best avoided.
But when are these huge storms most likely to strike? Well, the usual season for hurricanes runs between midsummer (June) and early autumn (November). However, the period between late August and early September is known for producing particularly violent and costly storm systems such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timothykrause/Timothy Krause via Flickr and CC 2.0
Travelers still shouldn’t let the threat of dangerous storms completely deter them from making vacation plans in the region. Even during hurricane season, there are plenty of times when there are no storms on the horizon. Modern technology has also increased the chance that travelers will have plenty of advance warning in the event of a storm. This allows them time to either evacuate or cancel their plans if the need arises. Just be sure to purchase travel insurance that has a liberal cancellation policy so that any weather-related emergencies are covered once you reach the tropics.
Image Credit: Chalky Lives via Flickr and CC 2.0
If you’re still worried about the possibility of encountering a hurricane on your travels, why not consider visiting Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaco (a.k.a. the ABC islands)? After all, these isles have an excellent reputation for staying out of the line of fire. Other good alternative destinations in the area with a low storm risk include the Southern Windward Islands, the Azores Islands, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. The northern portions of South America, Mexico’s Pacific Coast also have a fair chance of avoiding the storms as do the southern portions of the Caribbean.
In any case, stay safe and have a great vacation!
Aruba. Image Credit: Boris Kasimov via Flickr and CC 2.0
Sources: Travel Pulse; The Weather Channel; Huffington Post; Travel.gov; Usnews.com; Smartertravel.com
