Climate

For the most part, the Dominican Republic [1] has a tropical climate. The average annual temperature is 25°C (77°F), and the weather is warm and sunny for a majority of the year.

The seasons have only slight variations. The winter season (November–April) is when humidity is minimal with temperatures lower in the evening than they are in the summer nights. Coastal areas have temps around 20°C (68°F) in the evening, and in the interior mountain areas, it is much cooler, sometimes dropping below freezing, allowing for a rare frost on the peaks of the mountains. The summer starts in May and goes until October with average daily highs around 31°C (87°F) around the coast, dropping about 10 degrees at night—but the humidity makes it seem hotter.

Whatever the season, the towns of the Cordillera Central enjoy a “perpetual spring” as opposed to the desert region of the Southwest [2], where temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F). The cool temperatures draw the city folk to the mountains during the hotter months on the perimeter of the island.

October through April is the rainiest time for the northern region; in general the west gets the least precipitation, and the south gets the rain heaviest between May and November. Most of the time, the rain falls (150 centimeters on average for the whole country) with excited short bursts, book-ended by sunshine, resulting in quite a pleasant break in the otherwise near perfection of the weather—near being the key word. Abnormalities are inevitable, such as overcast skies (marring a sun worshipper’s beach vacation) or perhaps unexpected rains (ruining a windsurfer’s paradise). But for the most part, it is blue skies and sunshine.

The El Cibao [3] region is fortunate in that it has healthy land and sea breezes that sweep up from the sea to cool the air during the day and then move out again at night, taking the hot air with them.

Hurricanes

The Dominican Republic [1] is prone to tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, storms, and hurricanes), and a majority of them strike the southern part of the country. Hurricane season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of November, but most hit during August or September. Coming all the way from the coast of Africa, hurricanes usually start as tropical depressions that build up their ferocity as they cruise across the Atlantic Ocean, eating up all the warm moist air they can gobble up to fuel their speed as they careen toward the Caribbean islands, producing winds in excess of 200 kilometers per hour and with rainfall sometimes greater than 50 centimeters in a 24-hour period.

In 1998, Hurricane Georges plowed over the Dominican Republic, killing about 300 people. It caused gigantic agricultural losses of staple crops like rice, plantain, and cassava, and caused severe structural damage, leaving thousands homeless. Many people were without electricity for months, and food supplies were minimal after the hurricane.

Even though the Dominican Republic seems to be smack-dab in the middle of a hurricane bowling alley, the chances of getting caught in one are minimal. If you are, though, head inland and stay away from the ocean. It’s best to go to a major city so that there are adequate emergency services and shelters. If you’re in or near a resort when a hurricane hits, listen to management; they have procedures for evacuation and shelter. Mudslides are a major result of storms in the Dominican Republic [1], so stay away from all rivers, lakes, and hillsides.