End of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season

December 1st 2022

by Saint Lucia Met. Services

THE SAINT LUCIA MET. SERVICES REMINDS THE PUBLIC THAT SEVERE WEATHER MAY STILL OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE HURRICANE SEASON.

November 30, marks the official end of the 2022 Hurricane Season for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. A season, despite pre-season and revised mid-season outlooks from major Hurricane forecast agencies of being very active, busy and above average, ended up being a near average season, that produced a total of 17 systems with 14 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, namely Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Fiona. An average season has 14 named storms, 7 of which become hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The season started slowly with 3 short-lived named storms in June and early July, followed by a quiet period with no named storms in August. September produced 7 named storms including two major hurricanes, October, 4 named storms and the season ended with 3 hurricanes forming in November.

The Eastern Caribbean was impacted by two systems. On June 28, Tropical Cyclone Bonnie affected Trinidad and Tobago with heavy rainfall and flash flooding as Potential Tropical Storm Two. Tropical Cyclone Fiona affected the Leeward Islands as a tropical storm and Puerto Rico as a category 1 Hurricane causing major flooding and mud-slides.

Saint Lucia was spared the adverse effects of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes of the season but the island suffered severely from a rainfall event, which was caused by a trough system on November 6. The northern part of the island was affected by intense rainfall which was accompanied by severe thunderstorm activity that triggered dangerous flash flooding and debris flows. Extensive damage was reported in the districts of Gros-Islet and Castries.

As we transition into the dry season, the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services would like to remind the public that severe weather may still occur outside of the Hurricane season. In addition, the rainfall projection for the December 2022 to February 2023 period is for wetter than normal. The public is therefore urged to continue paying close attention to local weather reports, advisories and bulletins from the SLMS and announcements from NEMO.

The next hurricane season runs from June 1 to 30 Nov. 2023.

We wish all Saint Lucians a blessed and safe holiday season.