As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins, a local climatologist is sounding the alarm over a developing El Niño weather cycle that could expose Antigua and Barbuda to a dangerous combination of storm activity and intensifying drought conditions in the months ahead.
According to Antigua Observer, climatologist and meteorologist Orvin Paige has warned that the emerging El Niño pattern presents a dual risk for the twin-island nation — one that residents and authorities should not take lightly as the season gets underway.
Pagee noted that while El Niño conditions are traditionally associated with a suppression of Atlantic hurricane activity, the weather cycle carries its own set of hazards for the Caribbean region, including the potential to worsen already dry conditions across Antigua and Barbuda.
The warning comes as communities across the island continue to grapple with water scarcity concerns, making the prospect of prolonged drought a particularly pressing issue alongside the threat of tropical storm systems.
