The most severe hurricane to make landfall in Sint Maarten in the past 12 months was »Tammy«. It reached a wind speed of up to 139 km/h on October 21, 2023 at 5:00 pm local time near Philipsburg and was 74 kilometers in diameter at the time.

The most devastating and "defining" hurricane in St. Maarten's recent history was Hurricane Irma, which made landfall as a Category 5 storm on the morning of September 6, 2017. With sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h), it caused catastrophic damage across the island, destroying nearly 70% of the homes and crippling the Princess Juliana International Airport. Other historically significant "big" hurricanes include Hurricane Luis in 1995, which remained the benchmark for destruction for over two decades, and Hurricane Donna in 1960. In 2025, the island also closely monitored Hurricane Melissa, which reached record-low pressures in the Atlantic but did not result in the same level of direct-hit devastation as Irma. While the island has largely rebuilt since 2017, the memory of Irma remains a core part of the local resilience narrative. Travelers visiting during the official hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) are advised to stay informed, though modern forecasting in 2026 provides ample warning for any developing systems in the Leeward Islands.