Damages on Providenciales
Providenciales Island incurred minimal damage and only experienced slight flooding.
Damages on Grand Turk and Salt Cay
The eye of Hurricane Fiona passed near the eastern side of Grand Turk and Cay Salt islands, causing more damage from wind and flooding than what occurred on Providenciales.
Damages in the Caicos Islands
While Providenciales faced increased flooding and stronger winds, the central islands of North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and South Caicos were more directly in the path of Hurricane Fiona.
Past Storms
The 2021 and 2020 Hurricane Seasons
The Turks and Caicos Islands were minimally affected by the hurricane season of 2021.
Hurricane Isaias, 2020 July
Hurricane Isaias came near the southeast of the Turks and Caicos in the extremely early morning hours of 31 July. The tropical cyclone gained intensity when near the islands, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded the tropical cyclone from a tropical storm to a category 1 hurricane.
The Turks and Caicos Islands encountered minimal effects except for slight flooding and damage to the landscape.
Hurricane Dorian, 2020 August
The devastating category 5 Hurricane Dorian did not impact the Turks and Caicos Islands.
2017 Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria
The islands of Salt Cay and Grand Turk, located in the south of the Turks and Caicos Islands, experienced severe damage. The country as a whole was severely affected, particularly across these islands. The Turks and Caicos Islands were hit by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in September 2017, resulting in full recovery of the islands.
North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and Providenciales generally fared the best of the major islands, and the recovery and clean-up efforts progressed rapidly.
In November 2017, electricity was reinstated to all qualifying structures in the nation. Fortis TCI enlisted the help of more than 200 skilled lineworkers and personnel, as well as trucks and machinery from Canada, to expedite the restoration of utility services. Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage, toppling nearly 1300 utility poles and devastating various structures and roofs throughout the Turks and Caicos. Fortis TCI, the primary electricity provider in the country, deployed over 200 experienced lineworkers and staff, along with trucks and equipment from Canada, to facilitate the reconstruction of services. Consequently, power was successfully reinstated to all eligible buildings in the country by November 2017.
The British Armed Forces provided crucial aid, especially in terms of transportation supplies, in the initial weeks and days following hurricanes.
General and Historical Hurricane Information
The Islands of Caicos and Turks are at risk of being hit by a tropical cyclone or hurricane during the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from November to June.
Over the past few decades, the country has been extremely lucky to have seen extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008, specifically on Salt Cay and Grand Turk.
What is the Hurricane Season?
Tropical cyclones and hurricanes are likely to occur in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season, which typically begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th. Although rare, it is also possible for these weather events to form outside of this time frame.
Hurricanes are the term used for tropical cyclones if the sustained wind speeds go beyond 74 mph (119 km/h), while tropical storms are referred to if the sustained wind speeds range from 39 to 73 mph (63-118 km/h). These are large rotating storms with a center of low pressure.
Hurricanes and Your Vacation
Obviously, visiting Turks and Caicos during the summer hurricane season can pose a serious risk, as there is a possibility of experiencing a hot and beautiful yet stormy weather.
Our recommendation on whether to schedule your vacation during the period of hurricanes depends on the flexibility of your timetable.
If your personal schedule permits a potential alteration of vacation dates and if you buy an airline ticket with waived fees for ticket changes or travel insurance that offers coverage for cancelling for any reason (CFAR), and if there is usually about a week’s notice of a potential storm impact, then you will have a wonderful stay.
In the event of an impending storm, airlines will frequently offer extra flights to leave the country prior to the anticipated storm.
If there is a tropical storm or hurricane threatening the country, it is usually possible to inquire about booking policies regarding refunds or rescheduling of local accommodations.
During the late summer and autumn months, tourism in Turks and Caicos tends to slow down partially due to potential storms. However, a few restaurants and resorts will remain open, as this is typically the time of year with the lowest rates.
Hurricane Damage in the Turks and Caicos
Hurricanes result in extensive devastation through different factors, and powerful gusts of wind alone are typically not the most catastrophic element of the storm.
Landslides triggered by intense rainfall in hilly terrains are responsible for the majority of fatalities caused by tropical cyclones, except in the Turk and Caicos where this is not a concern. Likewise, extensive flooding is the main cause of destruction in regions susceptible to storm surges.
Storm Surge
Storm swells can have a significant influence on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Almost every historical settlement in the Turks and Caicos is situated close to the sea. A substantial portion of the remaining land in the country is characterized by its low elevation. Approximately half of the Turks and Caicos is comprised of wetlands and flats with low elevation, which have high salinity levels.
The rise in elevation can be significantly influenced by topography, nevertheless, the storm water level in a severe tropical cyclone can reach altitudes exceeding twenty feet (6 meters), which comprises both a surge in water levels and the usual tidal conditions.
The regions surrounding some islands in the southeastern United States, particularly in the Caribbean, often experience a significant rise in ocean levels. These areas are characterized by a gradual decrease in the ocean floor and gentle sloping. Storm surges are primarily caused by wind, rather than a significant reduction in atmospheric pressure.
Fortunately for us, the Turks and Caicos Islands are located on a submerged plateau, where extreme storm surges that are not suitable for such terrain can sometimes be observed in other nations. The water surrounding the plateau has depths ranging from 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 meters), and the Atlantic Ocean floor, which is approximately 11,000 feet (3.3 kilometers) deep, shows sudden changes in much of this plateau.
Roads in various areas such as Leeward, Five Cays, Turtle Tail, and the southwestern part of Providenciales, as well as a significant portion of the main urban areas on Grand Turk and South Caicos, typically get flooded during most hurricanes.
Rain and Flooding
The drainage of the ocean is extensive, and the ground becomes over-saturated with water. However, the underground natural water lenses are replenished to a certain extent by such heavy downpours. The Turks and Caicos Islands experience very little annual rainfall, with only a few distinct tropical cyclones occurring over this period.
Outbursts in the nearby mosquito populations are an undesirable consequence of rainwater flooding. Mosquitoes surface, as if on schedule, 10-12 days after intense downpours. Unless powerful gusts disperse them or precipitation persists, they typically endure for slightly over a month.
Our different islands, namely Providenciales, Grand Cay, Salt Cay, and Turk, tend to have fewer mosquitoes as compared to the Caicos, Middle, and North regions. Moreover, the degree of mosquito presence is slightly lower in our islands.
Utilities
In the Turks and Caicos, which is mostly true, wooden utility poles are suspended on power and communication lines in the event of a severe storm that can potentially inflict prolonged harm to public services, particularly, as one would anticipate.
Providenciales has fared quite well, with relatively limited power outages, after storms and during the excellent job performed by TCI Fortis in restoring and maintaining electricity on the island.
Following the extensive devastation caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008, Salt Cay, in particular, endured significant scarcity for an extended period. Both the impairment of filter systems and the absence of electricity have prohibited the production of clean water, as the potable water source for Salt Cay, South Caicos, and Grand Turk relies on reverse osmosis. The challenges extend beyond just electricity, with the smaller islands in the region often facing similar difficulties.
Utility poles made from wood are quite resistant to storms. This was observed in the case of the Blue Hills and Hanna Hurricane 2008, where the poles aged and were seen to withstand the storm in sandy ground. However, when set in the typical limestone bedding, the wood utility poles do not hold up well. This is not common in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Vegetation and Coastal Areas
Frequently, nearby trees will effortlessly topple, despite not being particularly tall overall. Due to the presence of limestone beneath the surface, the soil depth in the islands tends to be relatively shallow. Landscaping and trees will undoubtedly suffer significant damage.
The plants and trees can regrow and recover their foliage for several months. Unlike the colors of autumn seen in temperate zones, the leaves will become shades of reds and browns. On the side of the islands that bore the brunt of the storm, often exhibit a loss of greenery due to the ocean wind spray. It is interesting to see the effect of salt-burned vegetation.
The recent Hurricane Joaquin in 2015 caused significant erosion and took away a large amount of sand from the West Caicos and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos islands, even though it only reached the level of a tropical storm. One of the notable instances of sand movement occurred along the Northwest Point coast, where a significant amount of sand from Malcolm’s Beach Road was eroded. There used to be a channel known as the Moon Half Beach Cut, which was formed during the powerful Hurricane Donna, a major Category 4 hurricane in 1960. Over time, this waterway gradually filled back up and eventually completely closed off in 1999.
Historic and Recent Hurricanes
Statistical data indicates that September is the most probable month of the year in the Turks and Caicos Islands for hurricane arrival.
2016 Hurricane Matthew
Fortunately, the Turks and Caicos were spared any damage from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The rainfall experienced was relatively light, and the average wind speeds did not exceed 40 km/h (64 mph).
2015 Hurricane Joaquin
The tropical storm reached hurricane intensity but caused very little actual destruction in Turks and Caicos. The undeveloped west coast of Providenciales, including the scenic Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserve, saw a bit of a surge in storm and wave activity. In fact, the damage caused by this recent storm was less than any other storm in recent memory at Northwest Point, Malcolm’s Beach Road, and the Northwest Point National Marine Park.
2008 Hurricane Ike
The majority of residences on Salt Cay were either destroyed or heavily damaged. In the Caicos Islands, the extent of destruction was much greater than that of Salt Cay and Grand Turk. This category 4 storm, which closely followed Hurricane Hanna, was the most severe storm experienced in the country since Hurricane Donna in 1960.
2008 Hurricane Hanna
With the help of Hurricane Ike, the newly-constructed Causeway Caicos in Providenciales was destroyed, largely due to the passing of Hurricane Hanna. The storm’s path made a loop and closed twice, causing significant damage to the Middle and North Caicos.
2004 Hurricane Frances
The well-known shipwreck of La Famille Express was stranded amidst the storm. Hurricane Frances caused substantial precipitation, but thankfully only resulted in minimal harm to the surrounding gardens.
1985 Hurricane Kate
Occurring on November 18, 1985, Hurricane Kate’s trajectory passed directly through the Turks and Caicos islands.
Despite the fact that the storm in the Turks and Caicos Islands only managed to reach category one status, it still caused significant flooding and rainfall, resulting in damaged buildings and sunken boats.
1960 Hurricane Donna
One of the most powerful hurricanes to strike the Turks and Caicos in centuries caused widespread destruction, yet it did not take any lives.
A notable storm surge, possibly one of the highest witnessed in centuries, cut off numerous communities in the nation for weeks.
Enormous rocks were stacked and activity was observed on numerous of the southern limestone shores. Fresh channels were created at several spots, such as Bottle Creek and Half Moon Bay, located between Little Water Cay and Water Cay, mainly because of the storm surge and significant water motion.
1928 Great Okeechobee Hurricane
Florida made landfall as the expansive storm after it had previously hit Puerto Rico, with sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour (249 km/h) and recorded as the lowest barometric pressures ever recorded on the United States mainland. This storm was categorized as a Category 5 storm, having previously hit Puerto Rico.
Numerous vessels were lost in the Turks and Caicos Islands during this tropical storm.
The United States Weather Bureau in Washington D.C., Acting as a precursor to the upcoming storm, symbolizes the advancement of technology and the evolving era.
1926 Hurricanes
The nation’s ships, farms, and salt industry suffered significant destruction from two powerful storms, one occurring on July 24th and the other on September 16th, both classified as category 4 hurricanes.
1866 Great Nassau Hurricane
At least 50 lives were lost in the rural areas. The economic impact lasted for several decades, and approximately three-quarters of the country’s population were left without any belongings and became homeless. This tremendous hurricane, which struck on September 30th, is likely to be the most devastating one recorded in the Turks and Caicos.