SANTO DOMINGO. – Although Tropical Storm Melissa has moved away from the country, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) on Monday urged the population not to let their guard down and to continue following official recommendations, given that the effects of the storm are still being felt in various provinces, requiring constant monitoring.
Likewise, the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) reported that during the afternoon , an intensification of rainfall is expected, with occasional heavy downpours, thunderstorms and gusts of wind, especially over provinces in the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Central Mountain Range and Cibao Valley regions, including Pedernales, Barahona, Independencia, Bahoruco, Azua, San Juan, Peravia, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Samaná, Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Santiago, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat and María Trinidad Sánchez.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said that four provinces remain under red alert: Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, and Bahoruco, all located in the southwest region of the country. Additionally, eight provinces are under yellow alert, while the National District remains under green alert.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the COE (Emergency Operations Center), explained that rains will continue across much of the country, although they may be less intense. However, he warned that saturated soil in several areas increases the risk of landslides and flash floods, especially in vulnerable regions.
Rainfall will be concentrated during the afternoon in the regions from San Cristóbal eastward, including Santo Domingo, the National District, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, and La Altagracia. Authorities recommend that the public stay tuned to official bulletins from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) and the National Meteorological Office (INDOMET).
According to the report issued on Monday, October 27, at 11:00 a.m., saturated soil conditions could lead to surface water accumulation and unexpected flows, increasing the risk of flash floods in urban and rural areas. The public is urged to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and ravines with high water levels.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reiterated that alerts are updated according to weather reports and ground conditions. Civil protection agencies are maintaining active emergency response protocols and continuing to monitor weather patterns throughout the country.
Indomet
For its part, Indomet reported that Hurricane Melissa Category 5 on Monday , with maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h , and that, although its center remains distant from the national territory, it will continue to generate rain during the next few days.
The center of this powerful system is located near latitude 16.4 north and longitude 78.0 west, about 220 km south/southwest of Kingston (Jamaica) and 515 km south/southwest of Guantánamo (Cuba), moving slowly westward at about 6 km/h.
The institution explained that since early morning, Melissa has caused scattered downpours in provinces such as Barahona, Pedernales, Azua, Peravia, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Pedro de Macorís, Samaná, Hato Mayor, María Trinidad Sánchez and Greater Santo Domingo, among others.
Due to the recorded and forecasted rainfall, Indomet maintains 26 provinces under alert and weather warning levels for risk of urban and rural flooding, rising rivers, streams and ravines, as well as landslides , mainly in vulnerable areas.
The agency indicated that the provinces of Duarte, María Trinidad Sánchez, Elías Piña, Santiago, Hermanas Mirabal, La Altagracia, Independencia, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Bahoruco, San Pedro de Macorís, El Seibo, San Juan, La Romana, Samaná, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, La Vega, and Monseñor Nouel are under a weather alert. Meanwhile, Greater Santo Domingo, San José de Ocoa, San Cristóbal, Pedernales, Barahona, Peravia, and Azua remain under a weather advisory
Regarding maritime conditions, on the Caribbean coast, from Cabo Beata (Pedernales) to Punta Salinas (Baní) , operators of fragile, small, and medium-sized vessels are advised to remain in port navigation with caution is advised , while the Atlantic coast remains unrestricted.
Indomet urges the public to stay tuned to upcoming official bulletins, available on its website indomet.gob.do and its social media channels @indometrd.
