2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary
Issued December 5^th  2024

The Atlantic Hurricane season officially came to an end on 30^th November 2024. There were eighteen (18) named storms, eleven (11) hurricanes five  (5) of them were major.

 The 2024 Atlantic seasonal activity fell within the NOAA Climate Prediction Centre’s predicted ranges for named storms and hurricanes in the August updated outlook.

There were no impacts from any hurricanes or storms in St. Maarten. However, Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record  left a trail of destruction on the southern Caribbean in July.  The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada were the most affected. Then late passed near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before moving through the Yucatan Peninsula.

In November, St. Maarten experienced significant flooding caused by troughs interacting with frontal boundaries over the northeastern Caribbean. These events served as a clear reminder that heavy rainfall can have a substantial impact on lives, even without a hurricane or named storm.
The island endured two consecutive rain events, each bringing accumulations of 5 inches. At Princess Juliana International Airport, approximately 2 inches of rainfall was recorded  within a six-hour period. Since soils were already saturated, this lead to major flooding in many parts of the island.
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) will continue to monitor atmospheric conditions beyond the hurricane season and keep the public informed. Remember, impactful weather events can occur outside the hurricane season, so staying updated with daily weather reports is essential.