On Saturday, November 30th, the 2024 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season ended. During the five months of the season, 18 named storms formed. Among these, seven became tropical storms, while 11 reached hurricane status. Belize was spared from any major hurricanes; however, it was impacted by two tropical storms, Nadine and Sara. Flooding became a significant issue because of these storms, severely affecting the agricultural sector. This year’s hurricane season is considered to have above-average activity, showing a notable increase compared to the annual average of 14 storms, with a record surge in activity after September.
Hurricane Beryl, which landed in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, on July 5th, was the only major hurricane that affected Belize. The hurricane primarily brought strong winds and heavy rain to the local Mexican municipalities of Valladolid, Chemax, and Chichimilá. In Belize, tropical storm conditions were anticipated in the northern part of the country; however, when Beryl made landfall, the impact on Belize was minimal.
Tropical Storm Nadine was the first storm to affect Belize, landing on October 19th and bringing heavy landfall to the central and northern regions of the country. Nadine struck near Belize City with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour. In San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye, several streets experienced flooding, beaches were littered with storm debris, and erosion was visible in some areas. Fortunately, the local branch of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) reported no significant damage to residential or commercial properties following the storm’s passage. Additionally, Nadine caused flooding in northern, central, and western Belize.
Then, on November 17th, Tropical Storm Sara made landfall in southern Belize, bringing heavy rainfall to the region. This storm marked the end of the tropical storm season. A tropical storm warning was issued for the entire Belizean coast, including the Cayes. NEMO reported that the storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, a rare occurrence for late November. It significantly impacted the agricultural sector in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts.
In the Cayo District, hundreds of acres of sugarcane fields were submerged, causing substantial losses for many small farmers. Additionally, communities in Cayo Central, particularly La Gracia and Mile 7, experienced widespread flooding of vegetable plantations. The storm’s effects were so severe that Prime Minister Honourable John Briceño visited the affected areas, which also suffered damage to roads, bridges, and local infrastructure. One of the municipalities hit hardest by flooding was San Ignacio Town, where the welcome center and parts of its stadiums were inundated.
The country’s northern areas, including the Cayes, experienced heavy rainfall and flooding; however, no significant infrastructural damage was reported.
Several tropical storms occurred in the Caribbean region and the Gulf of Mexico, including Alberto, Chris, Gordon, Joyce, and Paty. Beryl and Milton reached Category 5 among hurricanes, while Helene attained Category 4. Hurricanes Kirk and Rafael developed into Category 3 storms. Other hurricanes, such as Debby, Francine, Ernesto, Isaac, Leslie, and Oscar, reached Categories 1 or 2.
