This post is also available in:
Spanish
Today, Wednesday June the 1st is the official start of the 2011 hurricane season, which the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is predicting will be more active than usual, with as many as 18 tropical storms.
UPDATE! It seems like ‘rainy season’ or ‘hurricane season’ has decided to start very promptly! Starting from today, June the 1st (day 1 of ‘the season’) – a stationary ‘tropical wave’ in the Central Caribbean (aka the DR) is predicted to bring heavy rains, accompanied by thunderstorms, due to last all through the weekend! SAD FACE!
The official hurricane season lasts every year from June the 1st through to November the 30th, with the most ‘active’ months in the Dominican Republic typically being August, September and October, with September historically being the ‘peak’ month for hurricanes, tropical storms and depressions.
But don’t panic, as far as the Dominican Republic is concerned Hurricanes are rarities – the Dominican Republic has been hit by only 11 hurricanes in 80 years. The last major hurricane to effect the Dominican Republic was Hurricane George (category 3) which made land fall on September the 22nd 1998 and before that there was Hurricane David (category 4) in 1979. (Source: DR1.com)
In reality, throughout the Hurricane Season, Casa de Campo still experiences beautiful sunny hot weather – so for those of us who choose to holiday here or live here full-time, we can still enjoy golf on the Teeth of the Dog, a day on Minitas beach or dinner in Altos de Chavón………of course it may rain a little, but the sun always comes out afterwards!
The following is an exert from the NOAA website on the upcoming 2011 hurricane season:
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:
- 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
- 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
- 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)
Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
What the upcoming 2011 hurricane season has in store for the Dominican Republic we do not yet know – we do however know that we must be prepared. Over the next few weeks we will be publishing important information on Casa de Campo’s emergency procedures as well as how best to be prepared.
Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video – Satellite Photo of Hurricane Earl on September the 1st 2010.