The island of San Fernandez has not had a hurricane since 1910, but David Wyatt thinks that this is about to change. David Wyatt is a young West Indian weatherman researching hurricanes with the US navy. He feels 'Mabel' will hit San Fernandez soon and kill thousands of people and drown the capital St Pierre. As Wyatt has no proof, Schelling, his boss, will not warn the islanders. But Causton, an English reporter with a London newspaper believes Wyatt's instinct. He also believes that Favel, a rebel leader, is planning war against the dictator, Serrurier. Everyone thinks Favel is dead but Causton, like Wyatt, can 'smell' trouble. Both Wyatt and Causton are right, and there is a race to convince somebody to tell the islanders to move to higher ground while fighting rages around them. Captain Brooks at the US base believes Wyatt, but cannot leave while there is a possibility of a civil war; Serrurier screams at Wyatt and Causton to leave him alone. Only Favel, the rebel leader, truly listens to Wyatt and orders his soldiers to move the people up the Negrito valley. Although a gentle and intelligent man, Favel thinks the hurricane is not just a disaster but an advantage in battle. He knows that once his troops leave St Pierre, Serrurier's men will move in and be killed by the hurricane. Wyatt, honest and idealistic, is disgusted by the reality of war but he is powerless to save everybody. After escaping imprisonment, Wyatt leaves St Pierre with Causton and Favel's men. It is only when the 250-kilometre-hour winds have stopped, and the tidal waves have covered St Pierre, that Wyatt finds Julie, his fiancée. She is safe but injured by a falling tree. Now Favel, the new president, must begin rebuilding the island. Captain Brooks offers help but it will be a long time before Mabel will be forgotten.