Stormy Memorial Day Forecast Looms Over Gulf Shores Beach Plans

Tropical weather brewing in the Gulf could put a damper on Memorial Day weekend plans for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who traditionally crowd Alabama’s beaches — but Gulf Shores businesses say the crowds are still coming.

Unless a storm is formally named, most vacationers have little recourse: cancellations generally depend on travel insurance, and only a named storm triggering an evacuation typically qualifies. With few calling to change plans, the area’s largest beach rental company, Meyer Realty, reports just 15 of its more than 1,000 properties still available for the holiday weekend under its 30-day cancellation policy.

Rainy Days, Busy Registers

Local retailers know the drill when storms roll in. A rainy holiday weekend tends to push visitors indoors — and into shops, restaurants and arcades. “We’re busy all year,” one store manager said. “It is Memorial Day weekend, so we will be busier.”

The weekend also brings about 1,200 athletes and their families to Gulf Shores for the NAIA track and field championships. City officials will lean on a weather monitoring service with real-time access to a meteorologist, with clear protocols in place: when lightning gets within a set distance of the event site, competition stops and athletes shelter until it’s safe to resume.

Named Storms and the Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, though tropical systems occasionally form in May. The National Hurricane Center assigns a name once a system reaches tropical storm strength, with sustained winds of at least 39 mph, which is why many travel insurance policies and rental cancellation terms hinge on whether a storm has been named.