This post is also available in:
Spanish
Since the wild and windy passing of Hurricane Isaac in August, which flooded the coastal areas of Casa de Campo with a rather nasty storm surge (click here for photos), Casa de Campo and the Dominican Republic hasn’t been affected by any other Tropical Depressions, Tropical Storms or hurricanes – until now. Tropical Depression 18, currently moving North towards Jamaica, is not predicted to directly hit the Dominican Republic – but will very likely bring some unpleasant weather to our shores.
“Heavy rainfall will be a significant threat, particularly to the north and east of the center of circulation, including Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Bahamas.”
— The Weather Channel (www.weather.com)
Tropical Depression 18
The following is a summary of all the current facts and predictions.
FACT:
• Tropical Depression 18 is currently stationary to the South of Jamaica
• Tropical Depression 18 currently has maximum sustained winds of 30mph
• The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba are currently on an “ALERT” threat level – meaning that people in these countries should carefully monitor the progress of this Tropical Cyclone
PREDICTIONS:
• Tropical Depression 18 is predicted to develop into Tropical Storm Sandy – by tomorrow morning, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph
• Over the next few days Tropical Depression 18 / Tropical Storm Sandy is expected to move North / Northeast across Jamaica and then across Cuba or Hispaniola (Haiti)
Predicted path of Tropical Depression 18
So what does this mean for the Dominican Republic, La Romana and Casa de Campo?
• It looks like the worst of the storm will affect other areas, but given the HUGE cloud mass association with this Tropical Cyclone, even if the center of this system does not cross the Dominican Republic – we will undoubtedly be affected.
• Over the next few days (probably starting from tomorrow (Tuesday) evening the Dominican Republic will be experiencing heavy rain, wind and thunderstorms. In low-lying areas of the country flooding, flash-floods and landslides can be expected.
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