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Spanish
UPDATE:
The information in this article is no longer correct. Tropical Storm Isaac has now passed by the Dominican Republic.
Here in Casa de Campo, sports facilities, services and restaurants are reopened with the exception of the Teeth of the Dog golf course – which is currently being clear-up as it was damaged by the storm surge.
For PHOTOS and more about Tropical Storm Isaac in Casa de Campo, CLICK HERE!
All predictions say that Tropical Storm Isaac will cross the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Isaac on Friday – but we must remember that these predictions are talking about the CENTER of the storm and not the surrounding mass of cloud, wind and rain that extend several hundred miles outwards from the center. So when exactly will the rainy, windy and unpleasant weather start?
Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question – believe me I have googled and googled and have so far not found any definitive answer. It seems that all weather channels are so focussed on the center of the storm – that it has not occurred to anyone to mention that the outskirts surrounding the center will be (in my opinion) crossing over the Dominican Republic MUCH sooner.
So when exactly will the rainy, windy and unpleasant weather start?
Honestly, I don’t know, BUT using my common sense and studying as many satellite images, predicted path images and reading every hurricane-related website I could find, here is what I think:
“The affects (rain and wind) of Tropical Storm Isaac will begin to affect the Dominican Republic within the next 12 hours. That is by 6am tomorrow morning (if not sooner) the weather will, in my humble opinion, be looking pretty grim.”
— Rebecca Hughes, a weather enthusiast (not a weather expert)
Why do I think this? Because the outskirts of Tropical Storm Isaac are already affecting Puerto Rico, and given the speed that he is moving – those outskirts of the storm will begin to affect us very soon too. It is also logical that as the center moves North-West the rest of the storm surrounding it will begin to bring heavy rain and wind before the arrival of the center.
NOTE: Currently, Tropical Storm Isaac does not have a distinct “center” – either one of the 2 pink blobs (clusters of thunder storms) shown on the satellite image below could eventually become the center.
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Isaac on Wednesday August 22nd, 6pm
So what should you be doing?
As the Eastern coast of the Dominican Republic is currently under “hurricane warming” (meaning hurricane conditions are likely within the next 36 hours), if you are not already prepared, we strongly recommend that you start getting your home and family ready.
Please click here for our advice on how to prepare your home and family for a hurricane hit.
Dominican Republic is currently under a “hurricane warning”
Tropical Storm Isaac
The following is a summary of all the current facts and predictions.
FACT:
• Located over the northern Lesser Antilles, Tropical Storm Isaac is moving WEST at 22mph with maximum sustained winds of 45mph.
• A hurricane warning has been emitted for the East coast of the Dominican Republic from Saona Island westward to the Haiti/Dominican Republic border.
[A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected anywhere within the warning area within 36 hours.]
PREDICTIONS:
• By Friday morning, Tropical Storm Isaac will have maximum sustained winds of 85mph, making him a category 1 hurricane – Hurricane Isaac.
• From Friday morning through Saturday, Hurricane Isaac will move across the Dominican Republic, with maximum sustained winds of up to 85mph – bringing lots of rain and causing “limited” damage.
• On Saturday, Hurricane Isaac will pass across Haiti, still as a category 1 hurricane, but with less strong winds of 75mph.
• From Saturday onwards Hurricane Isaac is expected to continue moving North-West across Cuba and towards Florida.
The predicted path of Tropical Storm Isaac
“Heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides will be threats in all of the northern Caribbean islands regardless of how strong the system becomes.”
What does this mean for us (in the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo and La Romana)??
• Whatever happens (good, bad or ugly) we will be getting some bad weather – just how severe we do not yet know.
• We need to start getting prepared – click here for our list of tips for getting yourself and your Casa de Campo villa in case of a hurricane.
• The damage level associated with a category 1 hurricane is (fortunately) classified as “minimal” and can include: flooding, flash floods, landslides and limited damage to wooden and/or fragile buildings and roads.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a weather-girl
For those of your who have never met me (or those who don’t know me very well) – I am not at all qualified in “weather predictions”. I have a Math degree, I was a math teacher for 5 years and for the last 4 years have been the editor of Casa de Campo Living website (this one), the social editor of CasaLife magazine and now I am also editor of TODO Casa de Campo magazine. Which means that in order to bring you these wonderfully insightful weather updates I use google and my common sense….not any superior knowledge of hurricanes etc.
KEEP INFORMED!
Whilst we at Casa de Campo Living will do our best to keep you informed, we recommend the following for keeping extra-informed:
• www.nhc.noaa.gov – The National Hurricane Centre
• www.weather.com – The Weather Channel
• ONAMET.gov.do – the Dominican Republic’s official weather warning people (this one is in Spanish)
• Twitter: We recommend following NHC_Atlantic – for regular tweets on hurricanes, tropical storms etc