TCI Disaster Management advises: 2020 Hurricane Season Forecast to be an Active

#GrandTurk, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 13, 2020 – As the world battles the Coronavirus crisis, researchers at the Colorado State University (CSU) are warning of a potentially active Atlantic Hurricane Season; beginning on June 1st to November 30th 2020.

Predicted to be an above-normal season, this year’s Hurricane Season marks the fifth consecutive year of above-average activity in the Atlantic. Researchers are predicting sixteen (16) named storms. Of those, eight (8) are expected to become hurricanes and four (4) to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category 3,4,5). This is due to the absence of El Nino and warm sea surface temperatures. El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form.

As the Hurricane Season quickly approaches, the Turks and Caicos Islands will observe its annual Hurricane Preparedness Month Campaign, commencing May 1st, under the theme “Be Proactive Not Reactive”. To mark this event, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) will be hosting a series of events:
• National Day of Prayer for Safe Hurricane Season;
• Refresher Trainings in Shelter Management, Damage and Needs Assessment, Radio Communications and Logistics Supply Systems;
• Virtual Press Conference;
• Schools Hurricane Preparedness (Art and Poetry) Competition;
• Virtual Town Hall Meeting;

The Director of DDME, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux, stated: “In the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic and a looming active Hurricane Season, as a country, it is even more important for us to be proactive and begin to prepare for a possible impact. We must begin now to take steps to ensure that our homes, businesses and families are well prepared for this year’s hurricane season, let us begin to update our business continuity and family emergency plans and develop comprehensive response platforms. 

We have to be proactive in preparing and not wait until something happen to begin to put measures in place. The 2019 Hurricane Season–in particular Hurricane Dorian which disseminated parts of the Bahamas should serve as a stark reminder of how devastating and destructive storms can be and how important it is to be prepared”.

The CSU team will issue further forecast updates on June 4, July 7 and August 6.  Therefore, please continue to monitor information from DDME’s Website and Social Media Pages.