Opening remarks - 48th session of the RA IV Hurricane Committee

Dear authorities of Mexico’s government,  

distinguished participants,  

colleagues and friends:

It is a great pleasure to send you warm greetings on the occasion of the 48th session of the RA IV Hurricane Committee.

I wish to express, on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization, our deep appreciation to the Government of Mexico for hosting this session, to its National Meteorological Service, and its Director, Mr. Fabián Vázquez, for their leadership and unwavering support to the work of this Committee.

We gather at a time when the risks associated with tropical cyclones are both real and increasing. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season witnessed three Category 5 hurricanes, only the second time on record that more than two storms reached the highest intensity. As we know, it only takes one landfalling tropical cyclone to roll back years of development. And this was unfortunately the case with Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic basin. A record-setting wind gust of 400 kilometers per hour was measured — an unprecedented observation that underscores the extreme nature of this event.

Melissa was the most intense hurricane to hit Jamaica in nearly a century. Recovery will be long and hard. Heavy rainfall and destructive winds also affected Haiti, Cuba and other countries in the region, once again highlighting that weather hazards respect no national borders.

Despite the force of Melissa, loss of life was relatively low. This is testimony to the accuracy of advance forecasts provided by the RSMC and by NMHSs in the region, and the use of these early warnings to support early action. Hurricane Committee Members can be proud of themselves for saving so many lives and helping to protect key sectors of the economy like transport, energy and fisheries.  

Since 1977, the Hurricane Committee has been a role model for regional cooperation, data sharing and technical excellence.

Your work is increasingly important in advancing the Early Warnings for All Initiative, as further efforts are needed to ensure universal access to reliable and actionable early warnings, particularly in the most exposed regions.  

To support the efforts of Members, the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress last year adopted amendments to the Technical Regulations, which come into effect next January. These clarify responsibilities in providing early warning services and aim to strengthen coordination and capacity development so that nobody is left behind.

We face many challenges – but also many opportunities. Innovative AI technologies in hurricane forecasting are a potential game-changer.  WMO is actively promoting responsible AI use, data access, and public–private collaboration. This region is one of the global leaders in operational AI applications, and we look forward to discussions at this session on how they will be incorporated into concrete weather services.

WMO remains committed to supporting this Committee in transforming meteorological, hydrological and climate science into life-saving services.  

I sincerely thank all the Members of the Hurricane Committee and the WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre - the National Hurricane Center in Miami, for your dedication, your partnership, and your continued commitment to regional cooperation.  

You are a shining example of how we transform science into action for the global good.

I wish you a productive and successful session.

Thank you.