KNMI and the MDC collaborate closely to forecast the weather for the general public and aviation and to preserve the continuity of the observations for this little segment of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.

To safeguard the quality of the MDC meteorological services, KNMI provides technical support to the Curaçao weather service, such as knowledge of radar systems, measurement stations and staff training.

The leeward and windward islands typically have a dry and sunny climate but also regularly experience extreme weather conditions. In the hurricane season between June and December, the islands are subject to tropical storms and hurricanes. These storm systems bring heavy wind and rain and can cause high waves, flooding, mudslides and destruction. The KNMI is closely involved with issuing warnings under such conditions and advises organizations including the National Crisis Center (NCC) of the Ministry of Security and Justice.

MDC is a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and in the time of issuing hurricane warnings makes use of information from the National Hurricance Center which is part of the National Weather Service in the United States.

MDC also makes seasonal forecasts on the basis of predictions about El Niño, a phase in which warm equatorial waters spread out along the coast and a large portion of the Pacific Ocean. How the temperature changes in the ocean greatly affects the tropical climate in this region.

There is close collaboration in the field of seismology. KNMI provides three seismometers for Sint-Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba to monitor earthquakes in the vicinity of the islands. The seismic activity, just as in the Netherlands, is monitored in real-time.

Additionally a volcanic monitoring system has been placed on Saba and Saint Eustatius to monitor, among others, the activity of Mount Scenery, a 877 meter high dormant volcano with four lava domes.

The six Antilleans islands consist of two groups. The leeward islands of Saba, Saint Eustatius and Saint Maarten also called the SSS islands, are situated to the east of Puerto Rico. The windward islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are the ABC islands and are located just off the coast of Venezuela. The two island groups are approximately 1000 kilometers apart.

With the inclusion of the BES-islands of Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba to the European Netherlands, KNMI has an additional responsibility as a national and regional institute for weather, climate and seismology.