While the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season has ended, Barbadians have been encouraged to update their preparedness plans for next year.
Acting director of the Barbados Meteorological Services Brian Murray made that suggestion as he assessed this season which officially ended on November 30.
“This is a good opportunity for individuals, families and businesses to review their plans for this year and make adjustments if necessary for the 2025 hurricane season,” he said in a statement.
He recalled that on June 1 in Queen’s Park, at the start of the season, they announced that there would be 17 to 25 named storms, of which eight to 13 would become hurricanes and four to seven of those hurricanes would become major.
Major systems are those that are Category 3 or higher.
“As of December 2, 2024, there were 18 named storms; 12 became hurricanes and out of that number four became major hurricanes. Based on the just mentioned figures, it has been an active hurricane season as predicted,” Murray said.
He, however, noted that only two tropical cyclones affected the Eastern Caribbean this year. Barbados and the southern Windwards were affected by the passage of Category 4 Hurricane Beryl on July 1, and the Leewards and northern Windwards by Tropical Storm Ernesto August 13-14.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for the Department of Emergency Management, is expected to give its assessment this week. During Beryl, the fishing industry was the most impacted, with the vast majority of the boats berthed at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex either damaged or lost.
During Beryl, the fishing industry was the most impacted, with the vast majority of the boats berthed at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex either damaged or lost.
