Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones and monsoons

Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones and monsoon rains can be very dangerous when you are travelling or living abroad.

Tropical cyclones are called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones depending on where they occur:

• Hurricanes: 
  • from May 15 to November 30 in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
  • from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific oceans, especially the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and the east and Gulf coasts of the United States, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. 
• Typhoons: mainly from June to December in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

• Cyclones: year-round, but mainly from September to June in the South Pacific and Indian oceans.

Monsoons are heavy seasonal rains that occur in parts of East, South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, and western sub-Saharan Africa. They take place at different times of the year, depending on the region. Check our Travel Advice and Advisories to find out when monsoons occur in your destination country.

Travel disruptions

Typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes produce strong winds and rain. They can cause high waves, storm surges, flash floods and landslides that result in significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure. They can also severely disrupt essential services such as medical care, transportation, power distribution, telecommunications networks, and supplies of water, food and fuel. Some areas, including small islands, may become inaccessible for extended periods of time.

These storms can cause severe damage along the coast and even inland. Local authorities may evacuate you from your hotel to an emergency shelter located in a safer area. You may have to wait for a long time for flights to resume and roads to reopen. In such situations, the Government of Canada may be limited in its ability to help you.

Necessary precautions

If you are travelling to a region where these major weather events are common:

Be informed 

• Check our Travel Advice and Advisories for up-to-date information on your destination.
• Sign up for our Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important updates.
• Stay up-to-date on developing situations through our Travel Smart app, our email updates and  RSS feeds, and our Twitter and Facebook channels.
• Monitor local media for the latest weather forecast, including warnings and advisories.

Before you leave

• Confirm your travel arrangements before you leave home. Make sure your travel insurance covers trip cancellation or interruption if there is a major weather event.
• Leave copies of your travel documents, itinerary, flights, hotels, cruise ships, telephone numbers and email addresses, and contact information for your tour operator with someone you trust at home.

While you're there

• Carry contact details for the nearest Canadian government office abroad and our Emergency Watch and Response Centre, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Follow the advice of local authorities and emergency response personnel.
• Keep in close contact with your family so they are aware of your situation.

If you live in a region where major weather events take place, remember that preparation is the key to survival. Follow the local emergency preparedness recommendations.

Related links 

• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Hurricane Season Travel Tips

Other resources 

• National Hurricane Center (U.S.)
• Tropical Storm Risk