Hurricane Irene Leaving Puerto Rico heading toward the DR
Posted by Dwayne under Las Terrenas Samana , Puerto Plata , Samana , Sosua[4] Comments
The national hurricane center announced in its 7am update that Irene is moving away from Puerto Rico. Over night tropical storm Irene increased in strength and was upgraded from storm to Hurricane. Maximum sustained winds were clocked at near 80 mph making it a category 1 hurricane as per Hurricane Irene Intermediate advisory # 7B at 9 am this morning.
Hurricane Irene is moving away from the North coast of Puerto Rico and is expected to reach the Northern Coast of the Dominican Republic later this afternoon to the evening. Hurrican fource winds are expected to extend out from the eye of the hurricane for 15 miles and tropical storm force winds extending about 150 miles from the eye mostly to the northwest and northeast of the center. As of 9 am Hurricane Irene is 75 miles ENE of Punta Cana moving at 14 miles per hour.
Haiti now has a hurricane watch for the north coast from Le Mole St. Nicholas east to the DR boarder.
The predicted path of Hurricane Irene has shifted from the middle of Hispaniola to the northern coast. At this point the predicted path takes Hurricane Irene directly over the coastal cities of Las Terrenas, Nagua, Cabrera, Ro San Juan, Sosua, and Puerto Plata.
This change of path takes La Romana and Santo Domingo out of the line of the hurricane part of the storm but still within range of being part of the tropical storm where winds can reach up to 50 mph. Flooding and wind damage is still a possibility for the entire country and in particular the coastal portions.
Travelers staying in those areas need to be aware that the storm may raise the water levers to as much as 2-4 feet above the normal tide levers along the entire Northern Coast of the DR. In addition to the overall raise of water lever storms also bring in large powerful waves.
Rainfall is expected to reach 5-10 inches with isolated areas reaching as high as 20 inches. This amount of rain makes mud slides and heavily flooded rivers very likely. This extra rain also make make roads in the DR impassible for periods of time. Extra care should be given if you plan on traveling Monday and Tuesday.
If you have a flight coming into or out of the DR during the time of the storm, likely the flights will be canceled. Jet Blue has already announced it will drop fees if you need to change your travels plans for the affected dates, likely other airlines like American Airlines will do the same.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:01 am
The ministry of education closed the school today because of Irene.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) declared a red alert for the provinces of La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia, San José de Ocoa, Azua, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Barahona, Pedernales, San Juan de la Maguana, Independencia, Bahoruco, Monte Cristi, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná, Duarte and the National District. Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Monseñor Noel, La Vega, Santiago, Elías Piña, Dajabón, Valverde, Hermanas Mirabal and Santiago Rodríguez are under yellow alert.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:27 am
Hurricane Irene is now expected to pass just north of the Dominican Coastline. The hurricane force winds will reach outward from the eye for about 30 miles.
It is expected that the highest winds will happen in the more elevated parts of the terrain. Tropical storm force winds may extend to as much as 185 miles from the center of the hurricane.
This movement puts the path of the hurricane directly over the Bahamas and could reach the central Bahamas by late Tuesday.
In the middle of the island near Cotui we are just starting to get some rain with occasional wind gusts.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:30 am
The map with this post shows a storm watch into effect for many of the islands north west of the DR. That has now changed.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT…
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* NORTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM THE HAITI BORDER
EASTWARD TO CABO ENGANO
* SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* NORTH COAST OF HAITI FROM LE MOLE ST. NICHOLAS EASTWARD TO THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER
* CENTRAL BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* PUERTO RICO…VIEQUES AND CULEBRA
* SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM SOUTH OF CABO ENGANO
WESTWARD TO THE HAITI BORDER
* ALL OF HAITI
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:17 pm
The tropical storm warning has been discontinued for Puerto Rico and also for the south coast of the DR west of Santo Domingo. Good news for the south coast. The storm must be continuing to move northward