Belize - Extreme weather report

       Belize is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events due to its location in the western Caribbean, an area frequently impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. According to the National Meteorological Service of Belize (2023), the country experiences an average of two to three tropical systems each year, with hurricane season lasting from June to November. Low-lying coastal regions and offshore islands are especially at risk of storm surges and flooding. Historical events like Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and Hurricane Iris in 2001 caused catastrophic damage to infrastructure and agriculture, highlighting the nation’s ongoing exposure to severe storms.


      Climate change is further increasing Belize’s risk of extreme weather. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022) notes that rising sea levels and higher sea surface temperatures are intensifying storms and flooding across the Caribbean. In Belize, these changes threaten coral reefs, which act as natural barriers against waves and erosion, and place pressure on key industries such as tourism and agriculture (Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, 2023).


      To reduce these risks, Belize has implemented disaster management strategies and early warning systems through its National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). However, experts emphasize the need for greater investment in coastal protection, sustainable land use, and community education to strengthen climate resilience (United Nations Development Programme, 2023). Continued adaptation and regional cooperation remain essential to safeguarding Belize’s people and environment from increasingly severe weather events.






Comments

  1. BertinOctober 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM

    Taiwan is also really vulnerable to being hit by storms from the north and south-west, along with both having distinct monsoon seasons. While Taiwan is not necessarily suffering from rising sea levels like Belize, it does have a similar issue due to land subsidence. Taiwan also uses early warning systems and other strategies because the cost of making infrastructure to withstand extreme weather needs to be mitigated.

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  2. Sierra Leone: A Blog by Jahaan HarrisOctober 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    Sierra Leone is similarly exposed, facing intense weather systems moving across the Atlantic. It has a distinct and heavy monsoon season that results in devastating flash flooding, particularly in the capital, Freetown. While the country struggles with coastal erosion from rising seas, a similar localized threat is posed by rampant deforestation and unplanned urbanization on steep hillsides, which greatly increases the risk of catastrophic and fatal landslides. Therefore, Sierra Leone also relies heavily on community-based early warning systems and effective urban planning to mitigate disaster risk, given the huge cost of making informal settlements and essential infrastructure safe against these extreme, recurring hazards.

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