The Caribbean island nation of Dominica remains under an official flood watch Wednesday through early Thursday, as a combination of a tropical wave and an upper-level trough brings unstable, rain-heavy weather to the area. The watch was put into effect by the country’s Office of Disaster Management (ODM) starting at 12:00 p.m. local time on September 16, and is scheduled to expire at 6:00 a.m. on September 17.
Through Wednesday afternoon and overnight, Dominica can expect persistent cloudy to overcast skies, alongside scattered showers that will likely intensify into moderate to heavy downpours. Isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds are also forecast across the island. Meteorological projections estimate total rainfall could reach up to two inches across most areas, with higher accumulations possible in elevated, mountainous regions of the country, which raises the risk of runoff and slope instability.
ODM has issued clear safety guidance for residents, particularly those living in zones that are historically prone to flooding, landslides and falling rock debris. The agency urges all at-risk residents to monitor official updates continuously, remain alert to changing conditions, and take proactive precautions to protect themselves and their property. For context, a flood watch designation means that weather conditions are favorable for flooding to occur, rather than an immediate flood warning that indicates flooding is already underway or imminent.
Wind forecasts call for sustained northeast to southeast winds of 15 to 35 kilometers per hour, with occasional stronger gusts. As of Wednesday afternoon, no additional official warnings or weather advisories are active across the island.
Off the coast, sea conditions are projected to stay between slight and moderate through the watch period. Significant wave heights will range from 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) overall, with more specific variation by coast: around 3 feet along Dominica’s sheltered west coast, and up to 7 feet along the more exposed east coast. ODM is urging small vessel operators and recreational sea bathers to exercise extra caution when entering coastal waters during this period of unsettled conditions.
The unstable rainy weather is expected to persist through Wednesday night. Forecasters project that by Thursday, conditions will clear as a drier air mass moves in, alongside the return of annual Saharan dust outflow to the region, which will suppress further rainfall.