CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE ERIN SENDS A STARK REMINDER

By Staff Writer

So far, yet so close – in contrast to so close, yet so far – might be one way of putting the passage of Hurricane Erin relative to the local area. Although not in the immediate vicinity of Cayman, the rapid intensification of the storm to Category 5 strength this past weekend was a sombre reminder of the need to be prepared for any eventuality, especially now that the 2025 hurricane season is nearing its peak.

Hurricane Erin churned up the seas in the Atlantic and caused shoreline damage and flooding as it swept past the North-eastern Leeward Islands this past weekend.

It was continuing on a path taking it east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas and passing between Bermuda and the US east coast. Erin is not expected to make landfall on that track.

With the 2025 season now reaching what’s generally regarded as the most dangerous phase, we recap the outlook of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service for the 2025 season issued in April in which it stated: “We anticipate that the 2025 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have above-normal activity…We anticipate an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.

The CINWS had also advised that “as with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season.” It also urged that thorough preparations should be made every season, regardless of predicted activity.

“It only takes one,” was the sage and sombre reminder of John Tibbetts, Director General of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, speaking on Cayman Conversations with Ralph Lewis, publisher of Caymanian Times newspaper.

Erin is the fifth named storm and first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season.

NEW SYSTEM DEVELOPING

Meanwhile, as Erin exits the area, all eyes are now on another patch of disturbed weather that’s just come off the coast of West Africa and is heading towards the Caribbean.

Initial projections have it taking a more southerly track towards the islands of the Caribbean than Erin did, and possibly moving into the Caribbean Sea.

The US National Hurricane Centre(NHC) is predicting some gradual development during the second half of this week with a 50 per cent chance of a tropical depression forming.

According to the NHC, “Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the latter part of the week.  This system should move westward to west-northwestward at about 20 mph across the central tropical Atlantic and approach the vicinity of the Leeward Islands toward the end of the week.”

This new system will continue to be monitored for further development and movement.

Residents of Cayman are urged to get their weather updates from the official, verified and trusted sources.

In an early August update to its 2025 predictions, the US National Hurricane Centre updated the number of expected named storms to “13-18 (with winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 5-9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including 2-5 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater).”