Chances are minimal of being caught in a tropical storm when traveling to the Caribbean. But they are real. Travelers to the Dominican Republic in September should keep watch on the tropical storms coming our way. The best way to do so is by following the DR1 Weather & Beyond’s 2018 Hurricane Season thread championed by MikeFisher. MikeFisher keeps a sports fishing business in the Punta Cana area that has made him a local weather expert.
While international weather reports are primarily focused on following the storms prior to their hitting the United States, the DR1 hurricane season thread is specifically related to forecasts on how these can affect our shores. Fellow residents around the country also pitch in to track and comment on the weather so people in different areas of the country are alerted to when they may be affected by more than heavy rainstorms.
The month of September has traditionally been the peak of hurricane season for the Dominican Republic. Of 11 hurricanes that have hit since 1930, 10 were in September, one on 31 August, and one in October. Take note of how spaced out the storms are, and how what hits on the east coast (Punta Cana) may not be felt on the north (Puerto Plata) or even south coast (Santo Domingo and La Romana). Since 1930 only two storms have hit the Punta Cana area (1996 and 2004).
Hurricanes hitting the Dominican Republic since 1930 have been:
Jeanne. (Category 1). 17 September 2004. East coast, Samana on the Northeast and North Coast (as tropical storm).
Georges. (Category 3). 22 September 1998. La Romana to Santo Domingo on the southern coast.
Hortense. (Category 3). 10 September 1996. East coast from Punta Cana to Samana. 130 kph.
Gilbert. (Category 3). 11 September 1988. Barahona on the southwestern coast, with winds of 200 kph.
Emely. (Category 4). 22 September 1987. Bani on the southwestern coast, winds of 220 kph.
David. (Category 4-5). 31 August 1979. Santo Domingo on the southcentral coast to the southwest.
Beulah. (Category 4). 10-11 September 1967. Barahona on the western coast with winds of 225 kms per hour.
Ines. (Category 4). 29 September 1966. Barahona on the western coast, winds of 240 kph.
Edith. (Category 2). 26-27 September 1963. La Romana on the southeastern coast, winds of 160 kph.
Katie. (Category 1). 16 October 1955. Barahona on the western coast, winds of 125 kph.
San Zenon. (Category 4-5). 3 September 1930. Santo Domingo on the southcentral coast.
On the positive side, September is a month to get good deals in airfare, hotel stays. This is also a good time to get travel insurance, but check carefully to see what is really covered.
Follow the 2018 Hurricane Season:
DR1 Forums
11 September 2018
