DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

On 13 April 2026, meteorologist Jean Suriel explained that the severe weather impacting Santo Domingo was caused by “microbursts” of cold air and heavy rain. These phenomena occur when a dense mass of cold air and rain rapidly descends from a thunderstorm, hitting the ground and spreading out with destructive force.

The National Meteorological Institute (Indomet) and Suriel noted that the event was fueled by a trough and high temperatures, which triggered intense cumulonimbus cloud formations. In addition to the strong winds, significant hail was reported across the capital, particularly in the National District and Santo Domingo West, as the rapid vertical movement within the clouds froze water droplets before they could melt upon descent.

The storm caused widespread damage, including fallen trees, downed power lines, and flooded urban roads. Social media and...