Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic
Hurricanes occurfrequently in the Dominican Republic. On average, they happen about 6 times a year. The hardest hit regions are El Valle, Yuma and Cibao.The hurricane season usually lasts from early June to late November.
The most severe hurricane to make landfall in the Dominican Republic in the past 12 months was »Fiona«. It reached a wind speed of up to 194 km/h on September 20, 2022 at 5:00 pm local time near San Fernando de Monte Cristi and was 107 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a category 3 hurricane. On the open sea, speeds of up to 222 km/h were measured (category 4).
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Current satellite image of the North Atlantic
28.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent hurricanes in the Dominican Republic since 2018
Nicole: November 6-11, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1482 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
El Valle
El Valle
Nicole: November 5-11, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1482 km
Air pressure:
below 980 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
El Valle
El Valle
Julia: October 6-10, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 307 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On October 7th, 2022 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 571 km southeast of Oviedo in Enriquillo.
Ian: September 22 to October 1, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 259 km/h
Diameter:
max. 845 km
Air pressure:
below 937 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 23rd, 2022 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 256 km south of Oviedo in Enriquillo.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kralendijk in Caribbean Netherlands on September 22nd at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kralendijk in Caribbean Netherlands on September 22nd at 8:00 pm.
Ian: September 19 to October 2, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1482 km
Air pressure:
below 937 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 24th, 2022 at 5:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 376 km southeast of Oviedo in Enriquillo.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kralendijk in Caribbean Netherlands on September 22nd at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kralendijk in Caribbean Netherlands on September 22nd at 8:00 pm.
Fiona: September 14-27, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 222 km/h
on land:
max. 194 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1241 km
Air pressure:
below 931 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
El Valle
Yuma
Cibao
El Valle
Yuma
Cibao
Fiona: September 12-24, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 932 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 18th, 2022 at 11:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 187 km southwest of Punta Cana in El Valle.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Central Aguirre in Puerto Rico on September 18th at 8:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Central Aguirre in Puerto Rico on September 18th at 8:00 am.
Earl: September 2-15, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 176 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1308 km
Air pressure:
below 948 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 4th, 2022 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 285 km northwest of Punta Cana in El Valle.
Earl: August 27 to September 10, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 167 km/h
Diameter:
max. 444 km
Air pressure:
below 954 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 4th, 2022 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 274 km northwest of Punta Cana in El Valle.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Road Town on the British Virgin Islands on September 4th at 2:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Road Town on the British Virgin Islands on September 4th at 2:00 am.
Grace: August 13-21, 2021
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 194 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 967 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
El Valle
Yuma
Valdesia
Enriquillo
El Valle
Yuma
Valdesia
Enriquillo
Fred: August 9-20, 2021
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 102 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 991 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
El Valle
Yuma
Ozama
Valdesia
Cibao
El Valle
Yuma
Ozama
Valdesia
Cibao
Elsa: June 30 to July 10, 2021
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
on land:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 667 km
Air pressure:
below 991 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Enriquillo
Enriquillo
Iota: November 12-18, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1000 km
Air pressure:
below 917 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Enriquillo
Enriquillo
Eta: October 31 to November 14, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 815 km
Air pressure:
below 922 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On October 31st, 2020 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 155 km south of Oviedo in Enriquillo.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Rocky Point in Jamaica on November 1st at 8:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Rocky Point in Jamaica on November 1st at 8:00 am.
Nana: September 1-4, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
Diameter:
max. 444 km
Air pressure:
below 994 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 1st, 2020 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 216 km southeast of Pedernales in Enriquillo.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Dalvey in Jamaica on September 1st at 2:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Dalvey in Jamaica on September 1st at 2:00 am.
Laura: August 20-29, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
on land:
max. 102 km/h
Diameter:
max. 741 km
Air pressure:
below 937 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
El Valle
Yuma
Ozama
Valdesia
Enriquillo
Cibao
El Valle
Yuma
Ozama
Valdesia
Enriquillo
Cibao
Josephine: August 10-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 1004 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On August 16th, 2020 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 226 km northwest of Punta Cana in El Valle.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Cul de Sac in Saint Martin on August 16th at 5:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Cul de Sac in Saint Martin on August 16th at 5:00 am.
Isaias: July 28 to August 5, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 148 km/h
on land:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1111 km
Air pressure:
below 986 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
El Valle
Yuma
Higuamo
Cibao
El Valle
Yuma
Higuamo
Cibao
Humberto: September 12-20, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 204 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 12th, 2019 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 161 km northeast of San Fernando de Monte Cristi in Cibao.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Moa in Cuba on September 12th at 8:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Moa in Cuba on September 12th at 8:00 am.
Dorian: August 24 to September 5, 2019
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 296 km/h
Diameter:
max. 111 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 910 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On August 29th, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 244 km northwest of Punta Cana in El Valle.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Saint Croix on the Virgin Islands on August 28th at 8:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Saint Croix on the Virgin Islands on August 28th at 8:00 am.
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.
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