Alert in the Dominican Republic: Extreme heat forecast until September 15
The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) has issued a warning for the entire nation due to the persistence of severe to extreme temperatures that will affect the country during the week of September 9 to 15. This phenomenon occurs after concerning thermal levels were recorded, reaching 39.3 °C in various parts of the national territory during the first days of the month.
Record temperatures in the last week
During the period from September 2 to 8, the provinces in the northern and northwestern regions were the most impacted. Official records confirmed the following maximum temperatures:
- Mao, Valverde: 39.3 °C (September 6).
- Sabaneta, Santiago Rodríguez: 39.2 °C (September 7).
- Jimaní, Independencia: 38.5 °C.
- Altamira, Puerto Plata: 38.3 °C.
- Santiago: 38.2 °C.
- Dajabón: 38.1 °C.
- La Vega: 38.0 °C.
Factors that intensify heat
For the coming days, the atmosphere is expected to remain stifling. According to the forecast, the heat index will exceed 37 °C for consecutive days, especially in the northwest area. This critical scenario is due to the warmest season of the year, which will be aggravated by the arrival of Saharan dust particles, whose concentration could exceed 100 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) towards the weekend.
Meteorological authorities estimate that in sectors of the center and east of the country, temperatures will exceed 35 °C for three consecutive days, which represents a health risk ranging from moderate to severe for the population.
Prevention measures and recommendations
Given this scenario, Indomet calls on the public to prioritize health care through the following preventive measures:
- Drink water constantly to stay hydrated.
- Wear light, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing.
- Avoid direct exposure to solar radiation during peak intensity hours, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Pay special attention to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with respiratory conditions.
The population is urged to stay informed through the official bulletins of Alofoke Deportes and meteorological authorities, especially given the incidence of Saharan dust expected in the coming days.
