SANTO DOMINGO.-The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated that Erin became a category two hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour.
As part of its 19th bulletin, the NHC notes that Erin will become a major hurricane as it continues its path through the Caribbean.
Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts and rapid strengthening is forecast over the next 24-36 hours, becoming a major hurricane over the weekend, a Listín Diario publication highlights.
The center of the hurricane was located near latitude 19.5 North, longitude 59.5 West; moving west-northwest at about 17 mph (28 km/h).
This movement is expected to continue through the weekend with a gradual decrease in forward speed. On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km).
Alert in the Dominican Republic
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), alerted the Dominican population yesterday, Friday, to stay informed about the evolution of Hurricane Erin, which according to meteorological projections could cause rainfall accumulations of between 70 and 75 millimeters.
In a press conference, he called on all citizens to remain vigilant regarding the possibility of urban flooding in the National District and Santo Domingo province.
"We must take care of ourselves. However, although this event may occur at a great distance, there is historical precedent indicating that distant phenomena have caused situations in other countries, as they release cloud fields and troughs that generate such situations," said Méndez.
Although the center of the hurricane will pass 400 kilometers from the northeastern tip of the country, Méndez explained that projections point to rainfall accumulations between 70 and 75 millimeters, which could cause flooding in urban areas.
