2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ends

The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ended on Wednesday, November 30. The August 2016 predictions by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the Atlantic Hurricane season was for a near normal to above normal season with 12–17 named storms, of which 5–8 were expected to become hurricanes and 2–4 major hurricanes. The activity for the season resulted in the formation of 15 named storms, 7 of which intensified to hurricane status and 3 major hurricanes. For the Atlantic, this was the first above-normal season since 2012.

Throughout the 2016 season, a series of tropical weather systems affected the island of Dominica. Tropical Storm Matthew, which formed just east of the Lesser Antilles on September 28, was the only cyclone that impacted Dominica during the season. The system moved south of Dominica from the 28 to 29 of September and produced strong winds gusting to tropical storm force, periods of moderate to heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms. Thankfully, only minimal damage was reported. Matthew moved into the Caribbean Sea and became a very powerful category 5 Hurricane. Other tropical systems that generated significant weather activity across Dominica were mainly tropical waves and trough systems which closed out the season by generating significant rainfall across Dominica on November 28 to 29.

We must remember that the end of the hurricane season is not an indication to let down our guard. Other weather systems frequently produce severe weather across the island outside of the official hurricane season. Dominica is highly vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards and the meteorological service will continue to implore to the public to pay attention to the all the too frequent hazards including flooding, strong winds and landslides. This means that although significant, less focus should be placed on whether the island is under a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning and greater attention must be given to the local hazards particularly of flooding and landslides that pose an imminent threat to particular communities here. Therefore, we must always be prepared and every effort should be made by the public to keep inform of severe weather conditions or weather conditions generally and importantly to get that information from trusted sources and responsible organizations.