WILLEMSTAD – Although Curaçao may receive less rainfall overall in the future, extreme weather events could become more damaging, according to climate scientists.
The report explains that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, meaning that when rain does fall, it may come in shorter but more intense downpours, increasing the risk of flash flooding. At the same time, hurricanes in the Caribbean are expected to become stronger, drawing energy from warmer ocean waters.
Stronger storms are likely to bring higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall, and more dangerous storm surges. Combined with rising sea levels, this increases the vulnerability of coastal communities and infrastructure, even if the total number of storms does not necessarily rise.
While the report does not provide Curaçao-specific hurricane projections, it references broader scientific findings showing that the most intense storms of the future could be more destructive than those experienced today, reinforcing the urgency of disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure development .