Spanish
Santo Domingo. – The director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), Gloria Ceballos, warned this Monday about the effects that the active tropical wave currently moving south of Puerto Rico could generate in the country, which could leave accumulated rainfall exceeding 300 millimeters in the next 24 to 48 hours.
During a press conference at the headquarters of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Ceballos explained that, although the phenomenon has not yet been classified as a tropical storm because it does not have a closed circulation, the atmospheric conditions are favorable for its development, which could soon turn it into the tropical storm “Melisa”.
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The heaviest rainfall is expected in the Caribbean coast, mainly affecting the provinces of La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Greater Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia, Azua, San José de Ocoa, Barahona and Pedernales. Ceballos explained that meteorological models offer different trajectories: while the Europeans estimate that the system will pass south of the country, the Americans project that it could cross directly over the island. "Although the models do not coincide, they all anticipate significant accumulations," he pointed out, recalling that in previous events between 267 and 400 millimeters of rain were recorded in the capital. He indicated that the influence of the phenomenon will begin to be felt from this Tuesday, with scattered showers in several regions, while between Wednesday and Thursday the most significant accumulations are expected."The system has not yet closed circulation, but it remains very active and is associated with low pressure. The most significant thing, regardless of its evolution, is the rains it will generate over the national territory," the official warned.
