AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Weather Weather & Hurricanes

How good is the weather forcasting in Ambergris Caye??? Being I will be there right in the peek of hurricane season, I would like to know if the technology in your area is good enough to early warn tourist?
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what I'm trying to ask.
But after seeing what Katrina has done to the gulf coast, I am concerned about being out on an island far far down on the north end and not being able to get sufficient weather information.
I was in St. Thomas last year when Francis went thru and it was extremely hard to get any type of news from anywhere! We were at the mercy of the storm and thank goodness it passed by us with just some wind and rain! But it scared the H---- out of us!!! and We don't want to go thru anything like that again.
Could anybody help me with an answer to this concern?

Look down at the weather info...it's more detailed than your local newscast. Now stop worrying about so many things and go on a GREAT vacation!!!!!

I was on AC when Emily was coming up and going by. I found the info available to be good, esp. from folks who'd been through them before. The airlines did a great job(if you were there early sat. am) getting people off. I spent a couple of days in Belmopan while the weather went by, and all the while the radio stations did a good job of updating the progress. Go and have a good time. You'll be fine.

People on AC are concerned about taking good care of tourists. Your welfare will be of the utmost importance to all on the island.

The information for weather is available to everybody on the internet on what seems to be about a thousand different sites. The Weather Channel does Tropical Updates every hour when there is no storm, and far more frequently when there is one threatening. The Belize weather service taps into the National Hurricane Center (as you can on the internet)in the US, and has access to virtually all the data that is out there. Those of us who are local weather junkies look at satellite images of the region several times a day during hurricane season. Your dive operators and boat captains will be doing that sort of thing every single day throughout the year so they know conditions for their tours and other activities.

National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) does an excellent pro-active job. They collaborate with hotels with updates and island advisories. Most hotel operators relocate their guests if a storm threatens.

As for your situation - unltimately your safety will depend on the operators of the hotel and your own common sense. This is true year-round.

DO NOT come to this island if a hurricane is threatening - you will put yourself and others in danger by adding to the emergency load.

Listen to locals. If a storm threatens, we will all be taking care of our homes, boats, kids, old people and pets. We want to live, we want our stuff to be ok and will be taking protective steps. If you don't watch the weather, watch the people.

Travel tips that are useful everywhere, but that in particular should be noted during hurricane season:
1. Bring one small waterproof flashlight per person, with spare batteries.
2. Bring (or wear on the plane) tennis shoes or the equivalent - should there be any kind of storm, you need to protect your feet from debris.
3. Travel with spare contact lenses, glasses, medications, insulin, etc. - bring about 2 weeks extra "whatever" that is essential for your health and welfare.
4. Have one very small bag (not a duffle, more like a big purse) or tiny back-pack, that you can toss esentials into (meds, ID, flashlights, and a bottle of water).
5. Remember - getting drunk in preparation for an emergency will earn you a Darwin Award.

I forgot lesson #1 a couple of weeks ago when I went to stay in a fine hotel in Houston - guess what - a huge power failure occured at dusk - sitting the dark in a high-rise is no fun at all.
And then there was the time we were evacuated twice in one night from the Miami Airport hotel .......... things happen everywhere - and one should always be at least a little bit ready.

Thank You Dianne and everyone else.
I feel a lot more at ease now

In preparing for the possibility of Hurricane Emily I found that although I had many flashlights most had dead or weak batteries and about half had the light burned out. A trip to the hardware store fixed the bulb situation and although I had many extra batteries they loose power even when not used.
Soon after I went on line and ordered two of the flashlights that you simply shake to charge - yes they really work. The bulbs never burn out and the light can be seen as far as a mile away.
While shopping I researched about radios that work the same and bought two. They both have cranks that charge them. One even has a built in light that looks like a little table lamp and can be switched to a flashlight. It even has a red flashing light.
All of these are put away with my 5 gallons of drinking water, and non perishable food stuffs. Next time I will not have to stand in line for an hour at the grocery store getting stocked up. The fruit and vegetables can be bought at the little stands nearby.
I feel much better now that I am prepared.

That's all pretty cool, Scubaldy . . .

But after what we've seen in NO, don't you think it would be better if you relocated when you get the warning?

Scuba Lady and others - be aware that 5 gallons of water is not nearly enough to get through the aftermath of a hurricane. Go out and get two large plastic garbage cans with good solid lids, also buy a hose. If a storm threatens, put one can in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. Fill them both.
Also recommend - life jackets, ropes, goggles, duct tape, crow-bar and axe.
Have lots and lots of plastic bags of various sizes - zip-locks for papers, big ones for bedding etc.
Storing batteries in plastic containers in the frig preserves their power.

Zip locs bags are perfect makeshift toilets and would have made a huge difference at the Superdome. We have comprehensive hurricane tips and checklists, get one and follow it to the t. NEMO, our FEMA, is pretty well organized and gets us in gear days before possible trouble. Your hotel, or local travel agent, will provide the best assistance. Don't depend on your local embassy, but was impressed by the British High.