Official season
June 1 to Nov 30
The Atlantic basin calendar
Loading page content.
Loading Planning Guides
Preparing itineraries, logistics, and practical travel tools.
Compiling planning guides and trip resources tailored for Belize.
Travel Tips
belize hurricane season 2026
The dates, the months that matter, the 2026 NOAA outlook, and a live National Hurricane Center status check
The short answer: Belize hurricane season is not six equal months
Atlantic hurricane season in Belize runs from June 1 to November 30, but the risk that matters most is August through October. Most seasons pass without a direct hit, while a major hurricane strikes Belize about once a decade. NOAA expects the 2026 Atlantic season to be below normal.
Belize focus
Aug to early Nov
October has the most landfalls on record
Major strikes
About once a decade
Most seasons bring no direct hit
2026 outlook
Below normal favored
Lower odds do not mean zero risk
By Rowan
Last reviewed July 14, 2026
Quick Navigation
Live Atlantic check
Storm status for Belize right now
The status uses NOAA's National Hurricane Center feed, refreshed continuously at the source and checked when this page loads.
Outside June through November, the live card stays hidden because the Atlantic season is closed.
The live Atlantic outlook map
NOAA's National Hurricane Center publishes this 7-day graphical outlook for the whole Atlantic basin and refreshes it several times a day. Belize sits on the far western edge of the map, so anything shaded near the western Caribbean deserves a closer look.
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center, refreshed several times daily.
Open the full NHC Atlantic outlookFor a deeper dive, Google DeepMind's experimental Weather Lab shows AI cyclone predictions, with formation, track, and intensity scenarios up to 15 days out, and is used to support National Hurricane Center forecasters. Explore DeepMind Weather Lab
NOAA 2026 outlook
Below normal is favored, but one storm can still change a trip
NOAA's outlook, announced May 21, 2026, gives the Atlantic a 55% chance of a below-normal season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of an above-normal season. The 70% probability ranges are 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.
El Niño is expected, with an 81% chance of a moderate or stronger event during the peak months. That pattern increases Atlantic wind shear and generally suppresses hurricane activity. This is only NOAA's second below-normal outlook in the past decade, but it lowers risk rather than eliminating it. NOAA updates the outlook in early August.
Read NOAA's 2026 Atlantic hurricane season outlookBelow normal
55%
Near normal
35%
Above normal
10%
Named storms
8 to 14
Hurricanes
3 to 6
Major hurricanes
1 to 3
Month by month
Belize rain patterns and hurricane risk through the year
The Atlantic season is a fixed calendar, but Belize's practical storm window is shorter. The central coast averages around 1,800 mm of rain a year, with a wetter far south and drier north. Coastal highs stay around 28 to 31°C and lows around 21 to 24°C. The table uses long-term Belize City area anchors, not a forecast for a specific trip.
| Months | Rain pattern | Storm risk | Trip read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec to Feb | Outside the June to November wet season; the rough dry-season window begins in late February. | None | No Atlantic hurricane-season monitoring is needed. |
| Mar to Apr | Dry season. April is the driest month, at roughly 45 to 50 mm around Belize City. | None | Storm risk is outside the Atlantic season. |
| May | The rough late-February to May dry-season window reaches its end. | None | The Atlantic season does not open until June 1. |
| Jun | Wet season begins. June is very wet, at roughly 250 mm around Belize City. | Season open, low | Start checking the Atlantic, though Belize's main risk window comes later. |
| Jul | Wet-season conditions continue across Belize. | Season open, low | Keep plans flexible and check the NHC feed before transfer days. |
| Aug | Wet season, often with the drier break locals call the little dry. | Elevated | Belize's practical hurricane window is now underway. |
| Sep | Wet-season conditions continue. | Peak | Use flexible bookings, weather cover, and regular official checks. |
| Oct | Wettest month around Belize City, at roughly 270 mm. | Peak | October has seen the most Belize landfalls on record. |
| Nov | The wet season continues through November. | Tapering | Belize-specific concern is highest early in the month; the Atlantic season ends November 30. |
Storm history
The Belize storms that shaped the record
Belize's history shows why October gets the closest attention. These entries use the storm category at Belize impact and run from the most recent event backward.
November 17, 2024
Tropical Storm Sara
Landfall near Dangriga with 40 mph winds and minimal damage.
November 2, 2022
Hurricane Lisa
Category 1 landfall about 18 km southwest of Belize City with 90 mph winds, about US$100M in losses, and no deaths.
September 2020
Hurricane Nana
Category 1 landfall on the Stann Creek coast, with no deaths and about US$20M in damage.
August 2016
Hurricane Earl
Category 1 landfall near Belize City.
October 2010
Hurricane Richard
Hurricane landfall south of Belize City.
August 2007
Hurricane Dean
Category 5 landfall just north of the border in Mexico, with serious damage in Corozal District.
October 2001
Hurricane Iris
Compact Category 4 landfall at Monkey River Town near Placencia, with 24 deaths and about US$250M in damage.
October 2000
Hurricane Keith
Category 4 storm that stalled just offshore over Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, with 19 deaths and about US$280M in damage.
October 31, 1961
Hurricane Hattie
Category 4 landfall just south of Belize City after peaking at Category 5 offshore. About 307 people died, and the destruction led Belize to move its capital inland to Belmopan.
September 10, 1931
Unnamed hurricane
Category 4 strike in the Belize City area with about 2,500 deaths, the deadliest disaster in the country's history.
No hurricane or tropical storm affected Belize in 2023 or 2025. The most recent event was Tropical Storm Sara near Dangriga on November 17, 2024.
Region reality check
Coast, cayes, and Cayo face different hazards
A Belize weather plan should follow geography. The cayes and coast prepare for wind and storm surge, while inland Cayo trades surge exposure for heavy rain and river flooding.
Cayes and coast
Wind and storm surge are the central concerns, so cayes are evacuated ahead of threatening storms. Keith sat over Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in 2000.
Inland Cayo
San Ignacio has no storm-surge exposure, but heavy rain can create river flooding. Inland does not mean weather-proof.
Official response
Belize's National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, runs national warnings and shelters. Follow its instructions together with NHC updates.
How Belize warns you
The red flags are literal: NEMO's four warning phases
Belize runs an official flag and phase system through NEMO, announced on radio, TV, and online, and flown at government buildings and police stations. If you hear Preliminary, Red 1, or Red 2 during a trip, this is what each phase means.
- Preliminary
One plain red flag
Possible threat within 72 hours
A system could affect Belize. Follow NEMO and NHC updates, keep plans flexible, and top up cash, water, and phone charge.
- Red 1 (Watch)
One red flag with a black disk
Threat possible within 36 hours
Conditions are possible. Confirm your hotel's storm plan, note the nearest shelter, and expect boats and domestic flights to start winding down.
- Red 2 (Warning)
Two red flags with black disks
Conditions likely within 24 hours
Public shelters open and evacuation orders are carried out, including moving people off the cayes. Follow official instructions immediately.
- All Clear
One green flag
After the system has passed
The threat is over. Expect cleanup, staggered reopening of transport, and normal service returning over the following days.
If a storm forms
The practical playbook during a Belize trip
Treat official guidance as the plan, keep the next transfer flexible, and protect the money committed to the trip before weather becomes a named event.
- 1
Watch the official guidance
Check the National Hurricane Center and NEMO, then follow any local warning or shelter instruction.
- 2
Move before transport stops
Water taxis and domestic flights stop ahead of dangerous weather, so do not wait for the last scheduled departure.
- 3
Follow caye evacuation instructions
If authorities call an evacuation, leave the cayes for the mainland on the timetable they provide.
- 4
Use the hotel's protocol
Hotels follow tested storm protocols. Ask the front desk where updates will be posted and what guests should carry.
- 5
Protect the trip cost
Comprehensive travel insurance with weather cover is the financial backstop for eligible disruption and cancellation.
Belize Hurricane Season FAQs
When is hurricane season in Belize?
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year. For Belize, the months that matter most are August through early November, and October has seen the most Belize landfalls on record.
Is it safe to book Belize in September or October?
Those months sit inside Belize's highest-risk window, so a trip needs flexible plans, regular NHC and NEMO checks, and comprehensive travel insurance with weather cover. Most seasons still pass without a direct hit, but October has the country's strongest landfall history.
What happens if a hurricane comes while I am in Belize?
Follow NHC and NEMO guidance immediately. Water taxis and domestic flights stop ahead of dangerous weather, cayes evacuate to the mainland when ordered, shelters open through NEMO, and hotels move guests through their storm protocols.
When was Belize last hit by a tropical storm or hurricane?
Tropical Storm Sara made landfall near Dangriga on November 17, 2024, with 40 mph winds and minimal damage. The most recent hurricane landfall was Category 1 Hurricane Lisa on November 2, 2022, southwest of Belize City.
Has a hurricane ever hit Belize City?
Yes. The unnamed Category 4 hurricane of 1931 struck the Belize City area, Hurricane Hattie made Category 4 landfall just south of the city in 1961, and Category 1 Hurricane Lisa came ashore about 18 km southwest of the city in 2022.
Is the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season expected to be bad?
NOAA favors a below-normal 2026 season at 55%, compared with 35% near-normal and 10% above-normal. Its ranges are 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes. A quieter basin forecast lowers the odds but does not remove Belize's risk.
Do I need travel insurance for Belize hurricane season?
Comprehensive travel insurance with weather cover is the practical financial backstop during the June to November season. Read the coverage and timing rules before buying, because this guide does not assume any airline, hotel, or insurer refund policy.
Which parts of Belize are safest from hurricanes?
No part of Belize is weather-proof. Inland Cayo, including San Ignacio, avoids coastal storm surge but can face heavy rain and river flooding. The cayes and coast face both wind and surge and are evacuated ahead of threatening storms.
What do the red hurricane flags in Belize mean?
Belize's NEMO uses a four-phase flag system. One plain red flag is the Preliminary phase, a possible threat within 72 hours. One red flag with a black disk is Red 1, a watch within 36 hours. Two red flags with black disks are Red 2, a warning within 24 hours, when shelters open and evacuations run. A green flag is the all clear.
How does hurricane season relate to sargassum season?
They are different phenomena. Sargassum peaks in the early wet season, while Belize's practical hurricane risk rises from August through early November. Use the Belize sargassum guide for current beach conditions.
Keep planning
Weather risk is one part of the Belize trip
Belize Weather by Month
Compare the full year by rain pattern, reef conditions, and travel style.
Open guideBelize Travel Insurance
Understand weather cover before a storm becomes a named event.
Open guideSargassum in Belize
Track the separate seasonal issue that affects east-facing beaches.
Open guideBelize Trip Cost
Build the daily budget and protect the larger prepaid expenses.
Open guideBuild flexibility into the forecast
Use the monthly risk table, live NHC status, and weather coverage in your travel insurance to make a plan that can move when conditions do.