The Dominican Republic is bracing for an extended stretch of dangerous extreme heat that will blanket most of the nation through the coming days, national meteorological service Indomet has announced. The hardest-hit regions will be the country’s northwest, northern and southwest zones, where peak afternoon temperatures are projected to climb between 35°C and 39°C. Elevated humidity will push perceived heat even higher, increasing health risks for residents across these areas.
Meteorologists have identified a combination of overlapping climate and weather factors driving this sustained heat event. First, the peak of summer brings naturally increased solar radiation that warms land and air masses across the Caribbean nation. Second, a stationary high-pressure system is drawing steady warm air flows from the east and southeast, trapping heat near the surface. Low to moderate levels of Saharan dust circulating over the country also contribute to warming conditions. Most notably, these factors are amplified by a currently moderate-strength El Niño phenomenon, which has established a regional pattern of suppressed rainfall and well-above-average temperatures across the entire Caribbean basin.
Long-range climate projections from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate this hot, dry pattern will remain locked in place for at least the next two weeks. Climatological data also confirms that July and August are historically the hottest months of the year in the Dominican Republic, meaning the current heatwave could extend deep into the summer season.
This heat event comes on the heels of a historic June that broke temperature records across the country. June 2026 saw unprecedented high temperatures in dozens of locations, including a new all-time station record of 39.9°C recorded on June 29 in Sabaneta, Santiago Rodríguez province. That reading toppled a 38.5°C record that had stood at the station since 1964, ending a 62-year-old benchmark. Other record-breaking readings were recorded across the nation: 38.4°C in Mao, Valverde Province; 38.2°C in Jimaní, Independencia Province; 37.1°C in Dajabón; 37.0°C in Altamira, Puerto Plata Province; and 36.4°C in the country’s second-largest city, Santiago.
Even the capital region saw new temperature milestones set. On June 30, the Santo Domingo Este weather station hit 36.6°C, beating the previous 2019 record of 36.0°C. The nearby Las Américas station also notched a new record of 35.9°C, surpassing the 35.5°C record set just six years prior in 2020.
In response to the ongoing public health risk, Indomet has issued a series of safety guidance for Dominican residents. The agency advises all people to maintain steady hydration throughout the day, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing that reflects sunlight, regularly apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, and avoid any unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight between the peak heat hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Special attention is urged for children, older adults, and people with preexisting chronic health conditions, as these groups face the highest risk of heat-related illness. Indomet says it will continue real-time monitoring of atmospheric conditions and will release regular updates through its official public bulletins and communication channels to keep communities informed.