Residents of the Dominican Republic are preparing for widespread wet weather through the early next week, as a convergence of distinct weather systems brings an extended period of elevated precipitation to the island nation. Leading meteorological analyst Jean Suriel has outlined that the upcoming rainfall will stem from three key interacting factors: a low-pressure trough positioned over the region, moisture-laden winds blowing in from both the Caribbean and Atlantic basins, and lingering atmospheric remnants left behind by former Tropical Storm Fay.
Suriel warned that the combination of these conditions will not only produce sustained rainfall, but also spawn more severe hazards through Sunday. Heavy downpours, sudden thunderstorms, intense lightning strikes, and powerful gusty winds are all on the forecast, pushing the risk of dangerous urban flooding and fast-moving flash floods to higher-than-normal levels.
The distribution of rainfall will vary across the country through the first half of Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, the most intense precipitation is projected to hit six regions: the southern, southeastern, eastern, northeastern, and northern portions of the country, as well as the Central Mountain Range. Meanwhile, the border region along the country’s edge will only see milder, moderate showers that are not expected to cause major disruption.
The wet pattern will ramp up in intensity on Friday, when the core of the trough moves into the Dominican Republic, compounded by the indirect effects of a separate low-pressure system developing over the Atlantic Ocean. From Friday through the weekend, moderate to heavy showers will remain a regular occurrence, paired with ongoing thunderstorms, strong gusty winds, and the potential for small hail in higher elevation areas of the Central Mountain Range and other mountainous regions.
Conditions are set to improve by Monday, according to Suriel’s forecast. As the trough shifts away from the Dominican Republic, overall rainfall totals will drop significantly. However, isolated scattered showers may hang on for an extra day, fueled by residual marine moisture and the lingering remnants of the combined weather systems. Alongside the tapering rain, the country can expect a sharp rise in temperatures, with hot, sweltering conditions returning by the start of the workweek.