Meteorologist Jean Suriel has issued an urgent weather advisory warning of a significant, multi-day rain event with heavy rains forecast for Saturday, 18 April 2026. He warns on his Instagram account that a combination of cold front, a new trough (vaguada), and heavy tropical moisture is expected to stall over the country in the next days, creating a high risk for severe flooding and landslides.
Four people were reported dead due to the severe flooding and landslides in different parts of the country last week. On the positive side, El Nuevo Diario says that the effective management of dams has reduced the damage by the rising waters of rivers.
For Thursday, 16 April, Suriel speaks of partly cloudy skies and that people can expect humid winds to bring moderate rainfall across various provinces. He writes that the direct influence of a trough (low-pressure area) is expected, bringing abundant marine moisture. This will increase the potential for significant downpours and more substantial flooding across the country; flash floods could develop after midday.
In addition to the rain, the phenomenon will increase wind gusts, electrical discharges (lightning), and the possibility of hailstorms in some provinces.
The situation worsens as the weekend advances. He writes on his Instagram account that the meteorological pattern shifts aggressively starting Saturday, 18 April as the cold front interacts with a trough and abundant marine moisture. Conditions will then become highly favorable for torrential downpours.
He says authorities and residents should prepare for a high risk of flash flooding as the system moves in. Work, commerce and schools have been impacted by the heavy rains this Spring.
He explains that by Sunday, 19 April, while the cold front is expected to weaken, the trough will remain stationary. This translates into heavy rainfall starting in the morning and intensifying after midday, significantly increasing the potential for severe urban and rural flooding.
The rains will continue through Monday, 20 April. The persistent rains create a continued threat of overflowing rivers, streams (cañadas) and potential landslides due to soil saturation.
He also mentions that days are getting longer with sunrise gradually shifting to an earlier hour.
He shares the interesting detail that the first sunrise happens in the DR in Punta Cana at 6:17am and the last in Jimaní on the westernmost tip, at 6:31am. He mentions that sunrise was at 6:23am in Santo Domingo and sunset will be at 6:57pm in the capital city.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
El Nuevo Diario
CDN
CDN
Diario Libre
16 April 2026