Seasonal· Cat Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Cat Island hurricane season
24° 9.4′ N · 75° 31.4′ W · approximate
Cat Island sits squarely on the hurricane track of the central Bahamas: Hurricane Irene's 2011 pass caused the worst destruction in the country here, tearing apart houses and leaving many residents homeless.
Practical
Coordinate is the Hawks Nest Point anchorage, near the island's only all-round shelter. Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10 with most activity from mid-August to mid-October (NOAA NHC). Hawk's Nest marina's dredged basin is protected from every direction and is cited by cruisers as a storm refuge, but it has only 28 slips and the resort closes around October; it is not a substitute for leaving the hurricane belt or hauling out. Every west-coast anchorage is open to the west and south-west winds of a passing storm. Schools on Cat Island closed ahead of Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015. Most insurers require boats north of a set latitude or hauled for the season; check your policy and watch NHC outlooks from June.
Best for
Planning a summer or autumn visit around storms
Season
Jun 1–Nov 30; peak mid-Aug to mid-Oct