Antigua and Barbuda to Hold National Thanksgiving Service Ahead of Hurricane Season

Antigua and Barbuda will gather in prayer this Sunday as the country prepares for the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with meteorologists urging residents to remain vigilant despite forecasts for a less active year.

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service has invited residents to attend the 2026 National Hurricane Season Thanksgiving Church Service at 4 p.m. on May 31 at the Bible Speaks Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The service is being held under the theme, “A Nation Prepared, A People Protected,” and is intended to bring together faith, gratitude and preparedness as the country enters another hurricane season.

Organizers said the event will provide an opportunity for worshippers to give thanks, seek guidance and pray for protection throughout the months ahead.

The annual service comes as the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2026. The agency forecasts between eight and 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

NOAA said there is a 55% chance of a below-average season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of an above-normal season, with forecasters pointing to the expected development of El Niño conditions as a factor that could suppress storm formation in the Atlantic basin.

Despite the outlook, weather officials have stressed that lower storm numbers do not eliminate the threat of destructive hurricanes.

Experts continue to urge residents across the Caribbean and other hurricane-prone regions to review emergency plans, secure supplies and remain prepared throughout the June 1 to Nov. 30 hurricane season.

The Thanksgiving service forms part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader hurricane preparedness efforts as the nation prepares for another season in the Atlantic basin.