which part of DR is most prone to hurricanes?

foratag

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Jan 6, 2004
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I can't seem to get the answer anywhere. Is one part of the country more prone than another, and if so, how much more? thanks.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Yes, some parts of the country have been more prone than others.

Hurricanes and tropical storms generally begin well to the southeast of the DR. Most generally at some point in their lives move northwest. Depending on where they are when they start moving northwest, they may near the southeast portion of the DR and strike somewhere in that area. Or they may continue offshore, striking somewhere along the coast of the island west of Santo Domingo.

Alternatively, they may continue in a somewhat northerly direction, passing Puerto Rico and nearing the north coast of the Domininican Republic at Samana on the ocean side of the Peninsula. They may even continue in a northwesterly direction along the north coast before heading more northerly toward the Bahama Islands and the US. Because of this predisposition, by the time they are at the longitude of Sosua and Puerto Plata, it is likely the strongest winds are offshore, though these resort areas may get periods of heavy rain. West of Puerto Plata there is little likelihood of storm related winds and rain, unless the storm is one of those rare ones that crosses the island from south coast to north coast.

This is a very basic explanation, but if, for example, you want to buy property where you are least likely to be bothered by the high winds of a tropical storm, then think Cabarete/Sosua or west.
 

XanaduRanch

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Sep 15, 2002
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I would add that one of the primary reasons the North Coast is relatively less likely to suffer damage from a hurricane has to due with the geography of the area, and the way hurricanes are constructed.

Winds around a tropical cyclone rotate counter-clockwise. This means that along a coastline which runs from northwest to southeast, a storm offshore has to have a significant portion of it's circulation center not only over land but over some fairly significant mountain ranges as well to be close enough for the wind circulation to affect the coastline. For those south to north crossing storms even more problems because they have to cross two mountain ranges to get here,once of which contains the highest mountain in all of the caribbean at around 10,000 feet.

The south side of the island is amuch easier target to hit because of the prevailing steering winds Ken mentioned are much stronger and aim storms generally in that direction, plus the ocean temperatures there aremuch warmer leading in general to more and stronger storms.

Tom (aka XR)