Hurricane Season in the Cayman Islands: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: the Cayman Islands’ hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and Grand Cayman’s record is unusual: fewer storms than most of the Caribbean, but most of the ones that came were hurricanes. In the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles in 11 of 50 seasons, a hurricane within 50 miles in 6 of 50 seasons, and November was as busy as August and September.
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Grand Cayman for September 10–16: change the dates to yours. Below, the Cayman Islands’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Hurricane season in the Cayman Islands, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles at some point in that month.
| Month | Storm within 100 mi | Within 50 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| June | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| August | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| September | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| October | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| November | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Ivan (2004) passed as a hurricane within 50 miles on September 12; Katrina (1981) and Paloma (2008) did the same in November.
The busiest week
Grand Cayman: Nov 5–11, when a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of 50 seasons. The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (17)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest |
|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | Jul 4 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Rafael (2024) | Nov 5–6 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Ian (2022) | Sep 26 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Grace (2021) | Aug 18 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Ida (2021) | Aug 27 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Eta (2020) | Nov 7 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Gustav (2008) | Aug 29–30 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Paloma (2008) | Nov 7–8 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Emily (2005) | Jul 17 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Charley (2004) | Aug 12 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Ivan (2004) | Sep 12–13 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Isidore (2002) | Sep 19 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Lili (2002) | Sep 30 – Oct 1 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Gilbert (1988) | Sep 13 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Arlene (1981) | May 7 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Katrina (1981) | Nov 4–5 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Allen (1980) | Aug 6–7 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
When the season runs
the Cayman Islands is in the Atlantic basin, whose hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
- What the Cayman Islands are known for
- What not to miss in Grand Cayman
- Things to do in the Cayman Islands
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Grand Cayman
- Grand Cayman’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in the Cayman Islands?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of the Cayman Islands did so between May 7 and November 8, most often in August.
Does the Cayman Islands get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of the Cayman Islands in 11, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 6: Beryl (2024), Grace (2021), Gustav (2008), Paloma (2008) and 4 more.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in the Cayman Islands?
August: a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of the 50 seasons, then September with 4.
What is the safest time to visit the Cayman Islands in hurricane season?
Within the season, June: no storm came within 100 miles in any of the 50 seasons. Outside June 1 to November 30, storms were rarer still.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.