DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Zenith Sun is a weather phenomenon known as Instant Without Shadows. In Spanish it is referred to as “Sol Cenital.” Its presence marks the beginning of the most rigorous heat period for the country. Residents should anticipate a week of suppressive heat, high humidity, and extreme solar radiation. It is a period when the “thermal stress” on the body is at its peak, requiring proactive measures to stay cool and hydrated.

As explained by weather expert Jean Suriel on his Instagram account, the phenomenon occurs because the Dominican Republic is located within the tropics (between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer). Twice a year, as the Earth’s axial tilt causes the sun’s direct rays to migrate northward toward the Summer Solstice, the sun passes directly overhead at a 90-degree angle.

When the sun reaches the “Zenith”—the highest point in the sky— its rays strike the...