Cayman Islands Marks World Meteorological Day 2026

Monday, 23 March, the Cayman Islands marks World Meteorological Day 2026 under the theme “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow”, joining the international community in recognising the vital role of meteorologists in protecting lives and communities.

World Meteorological Day takes place annually on this date, commemorating the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and highlights the importance of collaboration in weather and climate science. Observed worldwide, it also recognises the work of the international meteorological community in providing the data, forecasts and early warnings that support decision-making across sectors from disaster preparedness and aviation to public health and infrastructure planning.

“Tropical storms, storm surge, flooding rains, and the long-term pressures of a warming climate are not abstract threats in these islands, they are realities that shape our policies, our infrastructure, and the daily work of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service,” stated Premier Honourable André Ebanks in his message for this year’s World Meteorological Day commemorations. “Our meteorologists are at their stations when the rest of us are securing our shutters. They monitor radar and satellite imagery through the night when a system threatens our shores, translating complex atmospheric science into the clear, timely warnings that protect lives across these islands every day of the year.”

World Meteorological Day also serves as an opportunity to recognise the often-unseen work of meteorologists, technicians, and support staff whose observations and analysis underpin daily forecasts and early warning systems. This year, the WMO is also highlighting the role that young people and activists play in building resilience within communities.

Director General of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service John Tibbetts said, “Every hurricane season, the men and women on our team demonstrate exactly what World Meteorological Day is about. We monitor conditions around the clock including through the very storms we are warning the public about. Our role is not simply to report the weather; it is to give every person in these islands the information they need to protect themselves and their families. That is a responsibility we carry with immense pride, and we are honoured to carry it as part of the WMO’s global network of observation and protection.”

To read Director General John Tibbetts’ full World Meteorological Day 2026 message, visit https://gov.ky/w/cinws-director-general-statement-on-world-meteorological-day