Hurricane Season in Jamaica: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: Jamaica’s storm season is the Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30. In the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios in 13 of 50 seasons, most often in August (5 of 50 seasons), and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 7 of 50 seasons, most recently Melissa (2025).
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 Montego Bay for September 10–16: change the dates to yours, or pick Negril and Ocho Rios. Below, Jamaica’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Place by place
| Place | Storm within 100 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi | Busiest week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montego Bay | 13 of 50 seasons | 3 of 50 seasons | Jul 2–8 (3) |
| Negril | 11 of 50 seasons | 5 of 50 seasons | Jul 2–8 (2) |
| Ocho Rios | 13 of 50 seasons | 4 of 50 seasons | Jul 2–8 (3) |
Hurricane season in Jamaica, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of each place at some point in that month.
| Month | Montego Bay | Negril | Ocho Rios | Any of them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| August | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| September | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| October | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| November | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Gilbert (1988) and Melissa (2025) passed within 50 miles of all three towns as hurricanes. Negril, at the western end, has had the most close calls: Charley (2004), Ivan (2004), Gustav (2008) and Beryl (2024) also came within 50 miles of it as hurricanes.
The busiest week
Montego Bay: Jul 2–8, when a storm came within 100 miles in 3 of 50 seasons. Negril: Jul 2–8, when a storm came within 100 miles in 2 of 50 seasons (4 other weeks tie). Ocho Rios: Jul 2–8, when a storm came within 100 miles in 3 of 50 seasons (1 other week ties). The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (19)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest | Near |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa (2025) | Oct 28–29 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Beryl (2024) | Jul 3–4 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Rafael (2024) | Nov 5 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Montego Bay and Negril |
| Elsa (2021) | Jul 4 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Grace (2021) | Aug 17–18 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Ida (2021) | Aug 26 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Negril |
| Sandy (2012) | Oct 24–25 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay and Ocho Rios |
| Fay (2008) | Aug 17 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Ocho Rios |
| Gustav (2008) | Aug 28–29 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Dean (2007) | Aug 19–20 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Dennis (2005) | Jul 7–8 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Montego Bay and Ocho Rios |
| Charley (2004) | Aug 11–12 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Ivan (2004) | Sep 10–12 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Isidore (2002) | Sep 18–19 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Lili (2002) | Sep 28–30 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Iris (2001) | Oct 7 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Gordon (1994) | Nov 12–13 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Gilbert (1988) | Sep 12–13 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
| Allen (1980) | Aug 6 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios |
When the season runs
Jamaica 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
- Unique things to do in Jamaica
- Is Jamaica worth visiting?
- What to bring to Jamaica
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Montego Bay
- Montego Bay’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in Jamaica?
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 Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios did so between July 3 and November 13, most often in August.
Does Jamaica get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios in 13, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 7: Melissa (2025), Beryl (2024), Sandy (2012), Gustav (2008) and 4 more.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in Jamaica?
August: a storm came within 100 miles in 5 of the 50 seasons, then July with 3.
What is the safest time to visit Jamaica 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, no storm came near at all.
When is the rainy season in Jamaica?
From May to November, the same months as hurricane season: Montego Bay averages 20 rain days in May and 27 rain days in October, against 8 rain days in February (NASA POWER, 2006–2025, over about 50 km, which includes the hills).
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.