Eastern Caribbean Weather Outlook July 2026

An enhanced infrared satellite animation from GOES East (Band 13, 10.3 µm) focused on the Eastern Caribbean. Infrared imagery detects heat radiating from cloud tops — the colder (and therefore higher) a cloud top, the more likely it is producing heavy rain or thunderstorms. Bright blue-green and white areas indicate very cold, tall cloud tops associated with active convection, while grey tones show lower, warmer clouds or clear skies. This view is particularly useful at night when visible imagery is unavailable, and for spotting developing thunderstorm clusters that could organise into tropical disturbances.

A wider infrared satellite animation from GOES East (Band 13, 10.3 µm) covering the tropical Atlantic from the Eastern Caribbean to the West African coast. This zoomed-in view makes it easier to track individual cloud clusters and tropical waves as they cross the Atlantic — the classic path toward the Caribbean during hurricane season. The colour scale highlights cold, high cloud tops in blue-green and white (indicating deep convection and potential storm development), while warmer grey tones represent lower clouds or clear skies.

GeoColor imagery shows the Earth as it appears to the human eye during the day, with enhanced city lights and infrared cloud detection at night. This close-up view of the Caribbean basin highlights cloud formations, approaching weather systems, and the Saharan dust layer (visible as a hazy brownish tint over open water). Useful for seeing the overall state of weather around the Eastern Caribbean islands at a glance.

GeoColor imagery shows the Earth as it appears to the human eye during the day, with enhanced city lights and infrared cloud detection at night. This wide-angle view stretches from the West African coast to the Caribbean, making it ideal for tracking tropical waves as they move westward across the Atlantic — the classic path that can lead to tropical storm and hurricane development during the season. You can also observe large-scale cloud patterns, the Saharan dust layer (appears as a hazy brownish tint), and the overall state of the tropical Atlantic.

A high-resolution visible satellite animation from GOES East (Band 2, 0.64 µm) centred on the Leeward Islands. Visible imagery shows clouds as the human eye would see them from space — bright white areas are thick clouds likely producing showers, while thin wispy clouds appear grey. This band offers the sharpest detail of any GOES channel, making it excellent for tracking individual shower cells, sea breeze boundaries, and developing convective systems. Visible imagery is only available during daytime hours.

A high-resolution visible satellite animation from GOES East (Band 2, 0.64 µm) centred on the Windward Islands. Same technology as above but framed to show the southern Eastern Caribbean, useful for monitoring approaching weather from the south and east, including interaction of tropical waves with the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone). Only available during daytime.

Shows predicted wind speeds across the Caribbean basin for the next 12 hours. The colour-filled regions use a rainbow scale — purple and blue shades represent lighter winds, greens and yellows indicate moderate winds, and orange to red areas signal the strongest winds. The colour bar along the top of the chart shows the wind speed values in knots. Use this chart to anticipate incoming wind changes, assess conditions for maritime travel, or gauge how a developing weather system may affect wind patterns in your area.

GFS-Wave significant wave height in metres (colour scale on the left) with 10-metre wind barbs, 12 hours from the issue time, across the tropical Atlantic from the Eastern Caribbean toward the West African coast. Cooler blues are calmer seas; greens, yellows and reds mark progressively higher waves. Useful for boating, fishing and coastal activities, and for tracking swells from distant storms. Click the image to enlarge it.

The forecast position of pressure systems (highs and lows), fronts, troughs, tropical waves (dashed lines tracking westward, often the seeds of tropical storms in season), the monsoon trough and the ITCZ, 24 hours from the issue time. Tightly packed isobars mean stronger winds. Click the image to enlarge it for easier reading.

3-hour rainfall totals from NASA IMERG Early, which runs about 4 hours behind real time — so this is the most recent view. Each frame is a 3-hour window covering the last 48 hours; press play to watch the rain bands move across the islands. Greens are lighter totals; yellow, orange and red mark progressively heavier rainfall (see the inch scale on the image).

24-hour rainfall totals from NASA IMERG Early. Each frame is a full day; press play to step through the past week, one day at a time, for a longer-range picture of where the heaviest rain fell. Blues and greens are lighter totals; yellow, orange and red mark progressively heavier accumulations (see the inch scale on the image).

This specialised RGB (Red-Green-Blue) composite highlights Saharan dust plumes travelling westward across the Atlantic into the Caribbean. Dust typically appears as bright pink or magenta areas, while clouds show as darker red or brown tones and clear sky appears as a deep blue-black. Saharan dust affects the Caribbean in two important ways: it degrades air quality, aggravating respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies, and it suppresses tropical cyclone development by introducing dry, stable air and increasing wind shear that disrupts storm organisation. During hurricane season, heavy dust outbreaks often coincide with quieter tropical activity, so tracking dust movement can help indicate when conditions are less favourable for storm formation. The image can also reveal other atmospheric features such as volcanic aerosols and wildfire smoke.

A natural-colour satellite view of the tropical Atlantic highlighting the Saharan Air Layer. Dust appears as a hazy tan or brownish plume stretching westward from the African coast across the ocean. Unlike the specialised RGB composite above, this image shows the atmosphere roughly as the human eye would see it from space, making it intuitive for spotting large-scale dust outbreaks. Dense dust reduces visibility and gives the sky a milky appearance over affected areas.

Sea surface temperature (SST) analysis for the Atlantic Main Development Region, where the majority of Cape Verde-type hurricanes form and intensify. Waters warmer than 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) provide the energy needed to sustain tropical cyclones. The warmer and deeper the warm water pool, the greater the potential for rapid intensification. During hurricane season, this image helps identify pockets of anomalously warm water that could fuel approaching tropical disturbances.

Shows how ocean surface temperatures have changed across the Caribbean over the past 30 days. During hurricane season, watch for unusually warm patches (deep reds and oranges), which can signal areas where approaching storms may strengthen significantly. Outside of hurricane season, SST trends help indicate the onset of warmer waters and the transition into the active period.