Top Dominican Republic meteorological officials have stood by their earlier forecast for a rain-dominated week, confirming that after a 48-hour lull in precipitation, intense downpours will return to much of the country through the weekend.
Gloria Ceballos, director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), made the announcement Thursday, noting that the brief reduction in rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday was only a temporary shift within the broader established weather pattern. She explained that the ongoing combination of elevated atmospheric humidity and warm southeast winds continues to pull moisture-heavy cloud formations inland from surrounding seas, setting the stage for renewed heavy rain starting this Thursday afternoon and continuing into the evening.
Ceballos specified that this wet weather system will hold steady across the country through Friday, before tapering to lower intensity rain showers that will still persist across the weekend of Saturday and Sunday.
The heaviest precipitation will be concentrated in the country’s eastern, central and northern regions, as well as along the border zone shared with neighboring Haiti. In response to the forecast, authorities have issued two tiers of weather alerts for affected provinces. A yellow alert, indicating elevated risk of weather-related hazards, is in effect for 14 jurisdictions: Santo Domingo, the National District, San José de Ocoa, Santiago Rodríguez, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Monseñor Nouel, La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, La Romana, El Seibo, Hato Mayor and La Vega. A lower-level green alert, calling for continued precaution, has been activated for 12 additional areas: María Trinidad Sánchez, Monte Plata, Duarte (with a particular focus on the Lower Yuna region), Hermanas Mirabal, Samaná, Espaillat, Sánchez Ramírez, Valverde, Montecristi, San Juan, Independencia, and Elías Piña.
Emergency management officials are urging the public to remain vigilant as the wet conditions extend into the weekend. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE), reiterated that residents should not drop their guard against potential flood and landslide risks tied to the prolonged rainfall. He specifically warned people living in high-risk zones to avoid attempting to cross swollen rivers, streams and ravines, and emphasized the importance of staying updated on changing conditions through official government bulletins and the national emergency hotlines 911 and 809-472-0909.