Cayman Islands Weather, Hurricane & Sargassum Outlook
Forecast, hurricane tracker, sargassum risk, and marine conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cayman Islands
What's the current weather like in the Cayman Islands?
Daily.ky publishes a 6-day forecast from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service (weather.gov.ky) plus current temperature, humidity, and marine conditions for Grand Cayman.
Are there any hurricanes threatening the Cayman Islands?
Daily.ky's hurricane tracker pulls real-time Atlantic basin data from the National Hurricane Center and assesses threat to the Cayman Islands. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Is there sargassum on Seven Mile Beach?
Usually no. Seven Mile Beach sits on Grand Cayman's sheltered western side, and the prevailing east and southeast winds push floating sargassum onto the opposite coasts. Even in record offshore years it normally stays clear. Daily.ky's weather page shows a live local outlook indicating which coasts the current wind favours.
Which Grand Cayman beaches get the most sargassum?
The windward coasts take the brunt: East End and South Side first, with parts of North Side affected at times. Beaching peaks May to August. The western shore, including Seven Mile Beach and George Town, is usually the clearest; check the live local outlook on the Daily.ky weather page before choosing a beach day.
When is sargassum season in the Cayman Islands?
Sargassum beaching typically peaks May to August, mostly on the windward east and south coasts; the sheltered west side, including Seven Mile Beach, usually sees far less. Daily.ky publishes NOAA's daily offshore sargassum risk for Cayman waters; offshore risk indicates how much seaweed is near the coast, while wind and current determine what actually lands.
When is hurricane season in the Cayman Islands?
Hurricane season in the Cayman Islands runs from June 1 to November 30, the same as the wider Atlantic basin. Activity is heavily concentrated from mid-August to mid-October, and the statistical peak is September 10. June and July storms do happen but are usually weaker and less frequent than the late-summer peak.
When does hurricane season peak in the Cayman Islands?
The peak runs mid-August to mid-October. NOAA climatology places 96% of major (Category 3 and above) hurricane days in that window, with the statistical peak on September 10. Cayman's hardest historical hits, including Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, fall in this stretch, though November outliers like Paloma (2008) and Rafael (2024) are why the official season runs to the end of November.
What's the difference between a hurricane watch and a warning in the Cayman Islands?
A watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours; a warning means they are expected within 24 hours. Both are formally issued by Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) for the Cayman Islands; the underlying meteorology comes from the National Hurricane Center.
Should I cancel my Cayman Islands trip during hurricane season?
For travel between June and late August, the historical risk is low and most trips proceed normally. For travel during the late-August to mid-October peak window, monitor the NHC outlook and consider trip insurance with a 'cancel-for-named-storm' provision. Most major airlines waive change fees once a hurricane warning is issued for either origin or destination.
Will my flight to the Cayman Islands be cancelled if a hurricane approaches?
Owen Roberts International typically closes 12 to 24 hours before a hurricane warning takes effect and reopens after damage assessment. Reopening usually takes one to three days for a glancing storm and significantly longer after a major impact. Cayman Airways and the major US carriers generally rebook affected passengers without fee.
How long does CUC typically take to restore power after a hurricane?
A glancing storm or tropical storm impact: hours to a few days. A direct Category 1 hit (similar to Rafael 2024 on Little Cayman): roughly one week for most areas. A direct major impact (similar to Ivan in 2004): three to eight weeks for most areas, with full grid rebuild closer to 75 days.
Are HMCI hurricane shelters in the Cayman Islands pet-friendly?
The current shelter list and pet policy is published annually by HMCI ahead of the season at caymanprepared.gov.ky. Some shelters accept pets in carriers; others do not. Confirm in May, before the season opens.