Seems the DR will not get a direct hit by Hurricane Ivan as it makes it way westward. If the storm maintains its western course, it may not even be felt in most areas. As reported on the DR1 Weather & Beyond Forum, as of the 11am National Hurricane Center advisories, Ivan is currently to the south of a rather strong subtropical ridge, heritage of Hurricane Frances, which is steering the hurricane westward and impeding it from taking the WNW track that would bring it to bear down on the island of Hispaniola. Well out of the hurricane’s path are Puerto Plata and Samana on the North Coast, as well as Punta Cana on the East Coast, as the prognosis predicted Hurricane Ivan’s passage through Santo Domingo on the South Coast instead, some 275 miles away. This distance is far enough for it not to be felt. Weather forecasters say the closest Ivan would come to the DR is 150 miles south of Isla Beata in the southwest. Caribbean storms need to be closely monitored, however, as they are known to drastically change their course with scant warning. To follow the storm, see the Tropical Storm Ivan thread at the DR1 Weather & Beyond Forum at http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34