Authorities in the Dominican Republic have rolled out expanded weather emergency alerts across much of the country, after a combination of a trough and an active tropical wave created persistently unstable atmospheric conditions that raise risks of extreme weather events including intense downpours, thunderstorms, powerful wind gusts and isolated hail episodes.
Following an official meteorological assessment issued by the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET), the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) activated yellow-level weather alerts for seven provinces and the National District. The areas placed under the higher yellow alert, which signals elevated risk of hazardous conditions, are La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Sánchez Ramírez, Santo Domingo, the National District, San Pedro de Macorís and San Cristóbal.
An additional eight provinces remain under green alert, a lower-tier warning that calls for sustained precaution amid the ongoing unstable weather pattern. These provinces are Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, San José de Ocoa, Duarte, Espaillat, Puerto Plata, Santiago and Hermanas Mirabal.
National emergency and meteorological officials have issued clear warnings that the interacting weather systems will sustain a moisture-saturated, highly unstable atmosphere across the affected regions through the coming period. This conditions sets the stage for repeated rounds of heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, sudden strong wind gusts and occasional isolated hailstorms, all of which carry heightened risks of flash flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
To reduce the risk of preventable accidents, the COE has issued urgent guidance to residents living in all alert zones. The agency strongly advises against attempting to cross swollen rivers, fast-flowing streams and steep ravines that are carrying elevated water volumes, and reminds the public to avoid all recreational activities on affected waterways until conditions improve.
Alongside inland weather warnings, maritime safety advisories remain in effect for both the country’s Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines. On the Caribbean coast stretching from Cabo Rojo in Pedernales to Neiba Bay in Barahona, operators of small and medium-sized watercraft have been told to keep their vessels docked in port, as choppy, dangerous sea conditions create significant navigation risks. For all other stretches of the Dominican Caribbean coast, officials urge mariners to exercise heightened caution while underway.
On the Atlantic side of the country, covering the stretch from Saona Island in La Altagracia to Cabo Cabrón in Samaná, operators of small, medium and less structurally sturdy boats are also ordered to remain in port due to the threat of dangerous swells. All remaining sections of the Dominican Atlantic coastline are under a caution advisory, with particular warning for navigation close to the shoreline.