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2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum to be Held in The Bahamas

Wed, May 27th 2026, 01:40 PM
Hurricane Caribbean News Weather

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), in collaboration with the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services in the Caribbean - Phase 2 (CREWS Caribbean 2.0) Project, the Foundation for the Internationalization of Public Administrations (FIAP), and the Bahamas Meteorological Department, will host the 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) in Nassau, The Bahamas, on May 27th and 28th, 2026.

Held ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Forum brings together meteorologists, climatologists, disaster risk managers, policymakers and sector representatives from across the region to discuss climate forecasts for the upcoming wet/hurricane season, including tropical cyclone activity, drought, heat stress, wet and dry spells, rainfall, and flood potential. This year, the Forum will also examine how climate information can better support planning and decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors such as disaster management, water, food security and agriculture, tourism and public health.

Minister of Transport, the Hon. Leon Lundy welcomed the Forum stating, “It is truly a privilege to join you at this year’s 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), especially as it is being hosted in The Bahamas for the first time. This gathering reminds us of the power of collaboration and innovation across our region.

I extend warm greetings to our local host, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology; the regional host, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology; international partners, the European Union, organizers of this event and all other sponsors. I also warmly welcome all regional and international participants whose expertise continues to strengthen our shared capacity to respond to the challenges of a changing climate.”

These sentiments were echoed by Acting Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Geoffrey Greene, who noted, “Hosting CariCOF in The Bahamas is both a privilege and a milestone. It symbolizes our shared commitment to advancing climate resilience, forecasting innovation, and regional cooperation in the face of evolving environmental challenge. As we gather here, we reaffirm the power of partnership between governments, institutions, and communities, to translate science into action and safeguard lives and livelihoods across our islands”

Dr. David Farrell, Principal of the CIMH thanked the Government of the Bahamas for agreeing to host this year’s wet/hurricane season CariCOF which comes as the region prepares for the possibility of severe drought conditions associated with the strong El Niño conditions currently impacting the region. He noted that many islands in the Caribbean may experience significant water challenges due to the event, making this CariCOF extremely consequential.

Highlighting the importance of regional collaboration and partnership, Dr. David Farrell, noted “CariCOF continues to play a vital role in ensuring that climate science risk-informs decision-making across the Caribbean. Through strong regional and international partnerships, collaborations, and continued investment in climate services, we are improving the region’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate extremes and related hazards.”

Dr. Farrell further noted that the continued success of CariCOF reflects the strength of partnerships among national, regional and international institutions that are committed to advancing climate resilience in the Caribbean. In this regard, Julián Báez Benítez, Director for the WMO Regional Office for the Americas, underscored the significance of the Regional Climate Forum within the Global Framework for Climate Services Programme, stating, “RCOFS are a unique mechanism to bring together the data, forecasting capabilities and expertise of National Meteorological Services across the region to deliver tailored climate services to the whole region and build resilience.” He also reaffirmed the WMO’s commitment to supporting its Caribbean Members while encouraging those states that are not members to join the WMO.

The Forum will also feature the official launch of the Caribbean Climate Impacts Database (CCID), a centralized information archive designed to support climate risk assessment, adaptation planning and impacts-based forecasting in the Caribbean. Discussions will additionally advance the proposed Caribbean Climate Impacts Monitoring Network (CCIMNet), an initiative aimed at strengthening the routine reporting and coordination of climate impacts information across the region. These activities are being advanced through support provided under the ClimSA Programme, in partnership with the European Union, to further strengthen climate services and climate resilience across the Caribbean.

Reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to supporting regional climate resilience and climate services development, Ambassador of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, Fiona Ramsey, remarked, “As climate-related hazards become more frequent and severe, regional cooperation and trusted climate information are more important than ever. The European Union is proud to support CariCOF and the important work of CIMH in strengthening the Caribbean’s climate services and early warning capacities. Through our renewed partnership on Disaster Risk Management with the Caribbean, including the development of a Copernicus Competence Centre at CIMH through new programmes, we are working together to improve forecasting capabilities, support informed decision-making, and build stronger resilience for communities across the region.”

The Stakeholder Forum follows a series of activities taking place from May 25th to 26th, including technical training for Caribbean meteorologists and climatologists focused on advances to the CariCOF Outlook Generator (CAROGEN v2) and the Climate Predictability Tool, which support the development of harmonized seasonal and sub-seasonal climate outlooks for the region. The 14th Meeting of the Consortium of Regional Sectoral Early Warning Information Systems across Climate Timescales (EWISACTs) Coordination Partners will also be convened during this period.

Held biannually, CariCOF continues to demonstrate the Caribbean’s commitment to science-based decision-making, regional collaboration and strengthening resilience to climate variability and change.

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), in collaboration with the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services in the Caribbean - Phase 2 (CREWS Caribbean 2.0) Project, the Foundation for the Internationalization of Public Administrations (FIAP), and the Bahamas Meteorological Department, will host the 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) in Nassau, The Bahamas, on May 27th and 28th, 2026.
Held ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Forum brings together meteorologists, climatologists, disaster risk managers, policymakers and sector representatives from across the region to discuss climate forecasts for the upcoming wet/hurricane season, including tropical cyclone activity, drought, heat stress, wet and dry spells, rainfall, and flood potential. This year, the Forum will also examine how climate information can better support planning and decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors such as disaster management, water, food security and agriculture, tourism and public health.
Minister of Transport, the Hon. Leon Lundy welcomed the Forum stating, “It is truly a privilege to join you at this year’s 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), especially as it is being hosted in The Bahamas for the first time. This gathering reminds us of the power of collaboration and innovation across our region.
I extend warm greetings to our local host, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology; the regional host, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology; international partners, the European Union, organizers of this event and all other sponsors. I also warmly welcome all regional and international participants whose expertise continues to strengthen our shared capacity to respond to the challenges of a changing climate.”
These sentiments were echoed by Acting Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Geoffrey Greene, who noted, “Hosting CariCOF in The Bahamas is both a privilege and a milestone. It symbolizes our shared commitment to advancing climate resilience, forecasting innovation, and regional cooperation in the face of evolving environmental challenge. As we gather here, we reaffirm the power of partnership between governments, institutions, and communities, to translate science into action and safeguard lives and livelihoods across our islands”
Dr. David Farrell, Principal of the CIMH thanked the Government of the Bahamas for agreeing to host this year’s wet/hurricane season CariCOF which comes as the region prepares for the possibility of severe drought conditions associated with the strong El Niño conditions currently impacting the region. He noted that many islands in the Caribbean may experience significant water challenges due to the event, making this CariCOF extremely consequential.
Highlighting the importance of regional collaboration and partnership, Dr. David Farrell, noted “CariCOF continues to play a vital role in ensuring that climate science risk-informs decision-making across the Caribbean. Through strong regional and international partnerships, collaborations, and continued investment in climate services, we are improving the region’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate extremes and related hazards.”
Dr. Farrell further noted that the continued success of CariCOF reflects the strength of partnerships among national, regional and international institutions that are committed to advancing climate resilience in the Caribbean. In this regard, Julián Báez Benítez, Director for the WMO Regional Office for the Americas, underscored the significance of the Regional Climate Forum within the Global Framework for Climate Services Programme, stating, “RCOFS are a unique mechanism to bring together the data, forecasting capabilities and expertise of National Meteorological Services across the region to deliver tailored climate services to the whole region and build resilience.” He also reaffirmed the WMO’s commitment to supporting its Caribbean Members while encouraging those states that are not members to join the WMO.
The Forum will also feature the official launch of the Caribbean Climate Impacts Database (CCID), a centralized information archive designed to support climate risk assessment, adaptation planning and impacts-based forecasting in the Caribbean. Discussions will additionally advance the proposed Caribbean Climate Impacts Monitoring Network (CCIMNet), an initiative aimed at strengthening the routine reporting and coordination of climate impacts information across the region. These activities are being advanced through support provided under the ClimSA Programme, in partnership with the European Union, to further strengthen climate services and climate resilience across the Caribbean.
Reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to supporting regional climate resilience and climate services development, Ambassador of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, Fiona Ramsey, remarked, “As climate-related hazards become more frequent and severe, regional cooperation and trusted climate information are more important than ever. The European Union is proud to support CariCOF and the important work of CIMH in strengthening the Caribbean’s climate services and early warning capacities. Through our renewed partnership on Disaster Risk Management with the Caribbean, including the development of a Copernicus Competence Centre at CIMH through new programmes, we are working together to improve forecasting capabilities, support informed decision-making, and build stronger resilience for communities across the region.”
The Stakeholder Forum follows a series of activities taking place from May 25th to 26th, including technical training for Caribbean meteorologists and climatologists focused on advances to the CariCOF Outlook Generator (CAROGEN v2) and the Climate Predictability Tool, which support the development of harmonized seasonal and sub-seasonal climate outlooks for the region. The 14th Meeting of the Consortium of Regional Sectoral Early Warning Information Systems across Climate Timescales (EWISACTs) Coordination Partners will also be convened during this period.
Held biannually, CariCOF continues to demonstrate the Caribbean’s commitment to science-based decision-making, regional collaboration and strengthening resilience to climate variability and change.
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