Regional disaster management officials are warning that Caribbean territories, including Antigua and Barbuda, face extreme flash flood risks — even as forecasters predict a below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026.
According to Antigua Observer, the warning was issued by Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Executive Director Elizabeth Riley during a press conference held Thursday in Barbados.
Riley's caution underscores a critical distinction that authorities say residents must understand: a quieter hurricane season does not translate to reduced danger. Flash flooding, driven by intense short-duration rainfall, remains a serious and potentially deadly threat across the region regardless of overall seasonal storm activity.
The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology was also referenced in connection with the briefing, as reported by Antigua Observer, pointing to the coordinated regional effort to communicate these risks to the public ahead of the season.
