Dear SMM community,
Puerto Rico, like other destinations throughout the Caribbean and southeastern United States, is within the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1 through November 30. While SMM2026 will take place during this period, being within hurricane season does not mean that a storm is expected to affect Puerto Rico or the Conference. NOAA’s 2026 seasonal outlook favors a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, in large part because of the anticipated development of El Niño conditions, which typically increase upper-level winds that inhibit Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification. Seasonal forecasts, however, describe overall Atlantic activity and cannot predict whether a storm will affect a particular destination or specific travel dates.
Thus far, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet. As of late August, only three named tropical storms have developed and no hurricanes have formed, with overall accumulated cyclone activity substantially below the historical average for this point in the season. SMM2026 will also take place in the latter half of October. Although the official hurricane season continues through November 30, climatological hurricane activity declines substantially after its September peak and drops rapidly during the latter part of October and into November.
The Puerto Rico Convention Center, hotels, airport, transportation providers, government agencies, and emergency-management authorities maintain established preparedness, contingency, and continuity procedures for severe weather. The SMM2026 Organizing Committee will closely monitor official forecasts and guidance before and throughout the Conference and will remain in communication with the Convention Center and our hospitality and transportation partners.
In the event that a tropical storm or hurricane threatens Puerto Rico during SMM2026, the safety of our participants will be our highest priority. Conference activities would be adjusted, postponed, or suspended as appropriate based on official emergency guidance and actual conditions. Participants would receive timely information regarding any changes to the program, transportation, venue operations, or other arrangements, together with guidance from local authorities and our venue and hotel partners. Modern tropical-weather forecasting also generally provides several days of advance notice of a potential threat, allowing organizers, residents, and visitors time to make appropriate preparations and travel decisions.
We therefore encourage participants to plan for SMM2026 as scheduled. As with travel to any destination during hurricane season, attendees may wish to consider flexible travel arrangements and travel insurance appropriate to their individual circumstances. Should a weather system develop that could reasonably affect Puerto Rico or Conference operations, the Organizing Committee will communicate directly with registered participants as early as practicable.
Sincerely,
The SMM2026 Conference Organizing Committee
on behalf of the Society for Marine Mammalogy
Antonio Mignucci-Giannoni, Conference Co-Chair
Anmari Álvarez-Aleman, Conference Co-Chair
Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Scientific Program Co-Chair
Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez, Scientific Program Co-Chair
Jeremy J. Kiszka, SMM President
