Most form in the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico and move north and then northeastward as the storm usually gets carried away by an eastward-moving trough. Depending on the exact circumstances, this setup can often bring storms close to the Florida peninsula.

In 2026, the typical path of a hurricane in the Caribbean remains dictated by the steering of the "Bermuda High" and the rotation of the Earth. Most hurricanes originate as tropical waves off the coast of Africa, traveling westward across the Atlantic. Once they reach the Caribbean, roughly 99% of these storms continue moving from east to west. During the early season (June), they often form in the Western Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico. By peak season (September), they can track through the entire "Hurricane Belt," frequently passing over the Leeward and Windward Islands toward the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola). A "classic" path often curves northwest toward Florida or the Gulf Coast. However, islands in the far south, such as Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (the ABC islands), are located safely outside this primary belt and rarely experience direct hits, making them ideal year-round destinations.