Greater Santo Domingo (including the National District) and seven other provinces were declared on weather alert by the authorities due to downpours produced by an active tropical wave, located over the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet), the entity which issued the alert, warned that in the case of Greater Santo Domingo there is the potential for urban and rural flooding in the next 24 hours, as well as landslides and overflowing of gullies.
He stressed that the National District will be cloudy with heavy downpours at times, thundershowers and wind gusts.
The other provinces on weather alert are: Monseñor Nouel, San Cristóbal, La Vega, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, San José de Ocoa and Hato Mayor.
In this regard, the Onamet forecaster, Juan Carlos de la Rosa, explained to Diario Libre that the heavy downpours will start from midday this Wednesday and that a greater amount of rain is expected in the afternoon.
He said that accumulated rainfall is expected between 15 and 75 millimeters, and that this is why the warning of possible urban floods in Santo Domingo is issued.
He indicated that yesterday accumulated rainfall of 47 millimeters was measured and there were urban flash floods.
As a result of the effects of the tropical wave it is already raining over Hato Mayor, El Seibo and La Altagracia and in the Caribbean Sea there is a cloudiness that will enter over Barahona in the afternoon, according to the forecaster.
Increased rainfall
The director of Onamet, Gloria Ceballos, reported that due to the tropical wave, there will be increased rainfall on the Caribbean coast, northeastern region and center of the national geography.
“For today, it is expected that in the morning and afternoon hours will generate downpours, which will become heavy at times, accompanied by thunderstorms and wind gusts towards provinces such as: La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Samana, San Cristobal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales, Bahoruco, Independencia, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Sanchez Ramirez, Duarte, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Santiago, San Juan, Azua, Greater Santo Domingo and surrounding provinces,” details this morning’s bulletin from Onamet.
Tropical wave
The entity reported that the tropical wave has a very low probability of reaching the category of tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours and will be moving over the national territory in the coming hours, but is currently no longer monitored as a disturbance with cyclonic potential.
Thursday
For this Thursday the tropical wave will continue to move westward, while maintaining its effects on weather conditions over the Dominican territory, therefore, from early morning hours, there will be some downpours and possible thundershowers that will continue during the afternoon over towns on the Caribbean coast, the central mountain range, the southeast and northeast of the country.
Source: Diariolibre.com
