In view of the possible impact of tropical storm Franklin on the country, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) yesterday placed 16 provinces on yellow alert and 16 on green alert, that is, the entire territory. However, for this Monday, some will be placed on red alert.
In yellow are the National District and the provinces of Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia, Barahona, San Juan, Independencia, Elías Piña, San Pedro de Macorís, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Azua, Bahoruco and La Altagracia, that is, the entire southern coast.
In green are La Vega, Sánchez Ramírez, Duarte, Santiago, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, Valverde, Puerto Plata, Monseñor Nouel, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Samaná, María Trinidad Sánchez, Santiago Rodríguez and Dajabón.
Strengthens in the Caribbean
Late Sunday night, Franklin strengthened as it moved across the Caribbean Sea. Its winds reached 95 kilometers per hour. It was moving at 22 kilometers per hour, a pace that is expected to be maintained this Monday, reported the National Meteorological Office in its bulletin number two.
In that sense, the Onamet modified the levels of alerts, for tropical storm warning. “As of this moment, the alert is changed to a tropical storm conditions warning from Pedernales, bordering Haiti, to Saona Island, and an alert from Saona Island to Montecristi on the north coast,” it communicated.
He explained that a warning means that within 36 hours or less, one or two of the effects associated with a tropical cyclone, such as strong winds, high waves and breakers, as well as heavy rains could affect the areas under warning.
Heavy rains are expected
The director of Onamet, Gloria Ceballos, said that the accumulated rainfall that Franklin will bring will be between 250 to 300 millimeters. To put in context, she compared that the rain that fell on November 4, 2022, which found the capital unprepared and caused floods and eight deaths, the accumulated rainfall was 260 millimeters.
He warned that, although the southern part will be the most affected, the cloud field will cover the whole country, and that the fact that it is only a storm cannot be minimized, but he recommended the population to take the necessary measures.
Predicted trajectory
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the phenomenon will enter the country from the southwest, and will cross the island from south to north.
At 10:00 p.m. this Sunday night, the center of storm Franklin was located near latitude 14.9 north 68.0 west, that is, 370 kilometers south/southeast of Saona Island.
The waters of the Caribbean Sea where Franklin transits have a temperature between 28°C and 30°C (degrees Celsius), which favors a slight intensification, but not enough to allow it to reach hurricane intensity before approaching Dominican territory.
It is projected that at 2:00 in the afternoon of Tuesday, its center will be entering the Barahona peninsula, and at 2:00 in the morning of Wednesday it will be located in Santiago.
Teams get ready
For this Monday, the color of the warnings could change, according to Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the COE, during yesterday’s press conference. He added that, from now on, the organizations that integrate the institution will be in permanent session.
During the press conference, he warned the population about urban flooding. “I hope to God that these projections are not fulfilled, but they are there, and they are scientific tools”, said Méndez.
Maritime conditions
Regarding maritime conditions, from this Monday, along the Caribbean coast, waves of 8 to 9 feet will be gradually observed, with some breakers, so it is recommended that fragile, small and medium-sized vessels remain in port, while those of greater draft, should consult the official authorities.
Source: Diariolibre.com
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