The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) has announced that it is maintaining continuous surveillance over the remnants of former Tropical Storm Dolly, as the country prepares for a day of sweltering heat paired with scattered afternoon precipitation this Saturday.
Currently positioned hundreds of kilometers east of the Lesser Antilles, the decaying tropical wave that once was Dolly carries only a minimal, less than 10 percent chance of reintensifying into a organized tropical cyclone over the coming days. Despite this low odds of regeneration, meteorologists warn that the system is still projected to dump heavy rainfall across the northeastern and northern regions of the Caribbean, meaning close tracking of its movement and development remains a priority for local forecasting teams.
In addition to Dolly’s remnants, Indomet is also monitoring a second low-pressure disturbance located over the Gulf of Mexico. This system also has a low probability of strengthening into a tropical cyclone, but officials confirmed that its current position and projected path put it nowhere near the Dominican Republic, posing no immediate threat to the nation.
For Saturday’s daily weather forecast across the Dominican Republic, conditions are expected to stay predominantly hot and humid through most of the day. By the afternoon hours, the passage of a tropical wave will trigger scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms that will persist into the early nighttime across a swath of provinces including El Gran Santo Domingo, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Monseñor Nouel, La Vega, San Juan, Elías Piña and Dajabón. A broader group of 18 additional provinces, including popular tourist and population centers such as Santiago, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, Punta Cana’s home province La Altagracia, and Samaná, will also see increasing cloud cover and a rising chance of rain as the afternoon progresses.
Temperature readings across the country will range from cool overnight lows of 24°C to 26°C, while daytime highs are forecast to climb to between 34°C and 36°C, creating the conditions for potentially dangerous heat stress. The humid combination of high temperatures and moisture in the air will leave many Dominicans feeling uncomfortable and suffocated by the heat, Indomet officials noted.
To help residents cope with the extreme heat, the national meteorological service has issued public health guidance, urging people to drink sufficient water throughout the day to avoid dehydration, wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored garments that help with heat dissipation, and refrain from extended direct exposure to the sun without proper sun protection. Indomet also highlighted that children, pregnant people, and older adults are at disproportionately higher risk of heat-related illness, and reminded caregivers to take extra precautions for these vulnerable groups.