WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7)
(19.III.2013)
___________________________________________
RA IV HURRICANE COMMITTEE
THIRTY-FIFTH MEETING
ITEM 4.2
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO
8–12 APRIL 2013
Original: SPANISH
REVIEW OF THE PAST HURRICANE SEASON
Reports on hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical disturbances and flooding
associated with those events occurring in 2012
Report of the Dominican Republic
(Presented by the Dominican Republic)
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 2
1.
Introduction
In 2012, the Dominican Republic suffered the direct effects of Hurricane Isaac and the
indirect effects of Hurricane Sandy.
Hurricane Isaac affected the weather conditions on 23, 24 and 25 August with associated
rain bands that brought heavy rainfall and gusting winds across much of our territory. The highest
cumulative rainfall values occurred in the south, southwest and northeast of the country. Watches
and warnings were issued in various areas of the Dominican Republic.
Although Hurricane Sandy passed by at some distance from the Dominican Republic, it did
cause rainfall accumulation in much of the country on 23, 24, 25 and 26 October. No watches or
warnings of storm or hurricane conditions were issued, but watches and warnings were issued for
flooding and freak winds and waves.
2.
Effects of Isaac and Sandy in the Dominican Republic
2.1
Hurricane Isaac
The National Meteorological Office tracks tropical cyclones through its National Operational
Hurricane Plan, and sends routine information as soon as they attain the tropical depression
category.
The watches and warnings coordinated with the Dominican Republic's Emergency
Operations Centre (COE) include the following:

On the evening of Tuesday 21 August, a meteorological early warning was issued for the
southern part of the country.

On the morning of Wednesday 22 August in coordination with the Regional Specialized
Meteorological Centre, RSMC Miami, a warning was issued of hurricane conditions from
Saona Island towards the west in the south up to the border with Haiti, and a warning of
storm conditions from Saona Island to the east and north up to Manzanillo Bay, on the
border with Haiti.
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 3

On the afternoon of Wednesday 22 August, it was changed to a hurricane warning from
Saona Island south up to the border with Haiti, and a tropical storm warning was
maintained from Saona Island to Manzanillo Bay, up to the border with Haiti.

On the night of Wednesday 22nd, we maintained the hurricane warning for the southern
part of the country, but changed to an alert of tropical storm conditions from Saona Island
north up to Manzanillo Bay on the border with Haiti.
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 4

On the night of Thursday 23rd, we changed to a watch of tropical storm conditions for the
entire coastal perimeter.

On the evening of Saturday 25th, all watches on Dominican territory were discontinued.
The sequence of cumulative rainfall between 23 and 25 August 2012 is given below.
On 23 August the highest accumulations were observed towards the centre, north and
northeast. On 24 August, the heaviest rainfall was recorded in the centre, south and
southwest, while on 25 August the accumulations gradually began to decline, with the
highest accumulations to the north of the capital and in the southern region.
In the 72 hours when Hurricane Isaac was most active, the highest accumulations
were in the northeast, the capital and its northern neighbourhoods, and in the whole
southern part of the country, where the greatest damage left by Isaac was subsequently
reported.
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 5
• Rainfall recorded, 23-08-2012
• Rainfall recorded, 24-08-2012
• Rainfall recorded, 25-08-2012
• Total rainfall from tropical storm Isaac
The above sequence of images shows how the rainfall was distributed, and that the highest
total cumulative values are observed in the southern and southwestern areas. We should highlight
the isolated situation in the northeast of the country and isolated points in the centre.
The following table showing the values for pressure, maximum wind speed and gusts
recorded and cumulative rainfall in the network of synoptic and aeronautical stations in the
Dominican Republic.
SUMMARY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING HURRICANE ISAAC IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ON 23, 24 and 25 AUGUST 2012
Station
Location
ICAO
Minimum
pressure
Date and time
UTC
ddd/ff
kt
Date and time
UTC
Gusts kt
Cumulative
rainfall
78451
Montecristi
---
1006.4
250900Z
13020
241500Z
----
13.1
78458
Puerto Plata
MDPP 1008.2
242100Z
12020
241700Z
---
99.5
78460
Santiago
MDST 1007.2
242000Z
10024
250600Z
10033
89.7
78464
Cabrera
---
1010.2
240900Z
13016
240600Z
13024
82.0
---
Catey
MDCY 1009.0
242000Z
09020
232300Z
---
139.9
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 6
78466
Arroyo Barril
240000Z
09015
241400Z
09030
62.8
78467
Sabana de la Mar ---
1008.3
242100Z
13016
241800Z
---
66.8
78473
Bayaguana
---
1005.0
232100Z
11016
241800Z
13024
188.4
78479
Punta Cana
MDPC 1004.7
232100Z
22018
250300Z
16035
39.1
78480
Jimani
---
1003.7
250600Z
13030
250600Z
13041
89.2
78482
Barahona
MDBH 1004.4
232300Z
09026
242300Z
13052
411.0
78484
Higüero
MDJB
1007.4
232200Z
16017
242200Z
---
177.6
78485
Las Americas
MDSD 1006.6
232200Z
15024
250800Z
15040
87.5
78486
Central
---
1005.6
240000Z
12014
241800Z
13028
74.7
78488
La Romana
MDLR 1006.6
232300Z
09020
241700Z
09025
78.9
MDAB 1007.4
Graphical map showing the maximum wind speeds observed and the track of Isaac.
There follows a summary of the damage caused by Isaac in the Dominican Republic by
location:
Locality and area
Monte Plata (eastern zone)
Santo Domingo Este (southern
zone)
Barahona (southern zone)
Duarte (northeast zone)
Santo Domingo Norte (southern
zone)
Damage
Some areas isolated, 47 homes flooded, traffic
problems on major roads.
Ozama River flood, 10 people were rescued.
2,200 homes flooded.
11 localities cut off by flooding from several
rivers and streams. Wind damage to coffee and
citrus plantations.
32 homes flooded by overflowing rivers.
1,477 homes damaged by flooding owing to
inadequate storm drainage.
Water supplies affected
Locality and area
María Trinidad Sánchez (northeast)
San Pedro de Macorís and Hato Mayor (east)
San Cristóbal, Peravia, Monte Plata (south)
Azua, San Juan, Elías Piña (southwest)
Barahona, Pedernales (deep south)
No. of water supplies affected
18
8
45
24
5
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 7
Electricity
Component
Transmission lines
Transformers
Utility poles
Faulty circuits
Quantity
8,000 metres
26
66
169
Summary of people affected
a)
b)
Families evacuated: 468;
2,225 people moved into shelters.
2.2
Hurricane Sandy
Two months later, on 23, 24 and 25 October, even though Hurricane Sandy's centre passed
over Jamaica and Cuba, its cloud activity, heavy rain and gusting winds impacted on the
Dominican Republic, with greater frequency and intensity in southern areas and those to the north
of the capital city. This tropical cyclone caused more damage and disruption to the population than
Isaac.
Below we can see the path taken by Hurricane Sandy, crossing Jamaica and then the
eastern part of Cuba.
Fig.1. - Track of Hurricane Sandy. (Source: The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance
Facility, CCRIF.
Tracking by satellite images showed that bands of heavy rain approached the Dominican
Republic from the south, as can be seen in the images below.
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 8
.
Note that there was no coordination of watches or warnings with the Regional Specialized
Meteorological Centre of Miami, for storm or hurricane conditions, but the National Meteorological Bureau,
ONAMET, did coordinate with the Flood Warning Operations Centre, mobilizing the National Emergency
Commission of the Dominican Republic to safeguard life and property.
The following images graphically represent the cumulative values of daily and total rainfall during the
event, clearly showing which areas were worst affected.
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 9
• Rainfall recorded, 23-10-2012
• Rainfall recorded, 24-10-2012
• Rainfall recorded, 25-10-2012
• Rainfall recorded, 26-10-2012
RA IV/HC-35/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 10
• Total rainfall from tropical cyclone Sandy
According to data provided by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), there follows a
breakdown of the number of people and households affected by Sandy.
Damage report
Locality and area
San José de Ocoa
(south)
María Trinidad
Sánchez
(northeast)
Samana
(northeast)
Azua (southwest)
Distrito Nacional
(south)
Monte Plata (east)
Peravia Bani
(south)
Hato Mayor (east)
Duarte (northeast)
Monseñor Nouel
(central)
Ramírez Sánchez
(northeast)
Santo Domingo
(south)
Damage
3 homes flooded by overflowing rivers. Bridge approaches affected.
20 localities cut off by flooding from rivers and streams.
4 homes affected by landslides. 3 sections cut off by flooding.
Power problems. A gale affected about 350 homes, downing power
lines and trees. Bridges destroyed by overflowing rivers. Some 30
localities cut off.
1,060 homes flooded by overflowing rivers, streams and creeks.
30 homes flooded due to overflowing rivers. Section of the Santo
Domingo-Samana highway blocked by flooding rivers.
At least 4 towns cut off by flooding from rivers and streams.
Problems on bridge approaches.
Four localities cut off.
Obstruction of neighbourhoods by damage to bridge approaches
due to heavy rainfall that caused rivers to overflow.
Some 22 localities cut off by flooding of rivers and streams.
3,640 homes flooded by overflowing rivers and storm drainage
problems.
The movement of people to shelters and affected homes is summarized below:





3,117 housed in official shelters;
24,805 housed in the homes of family and friends;
4,903 homes flooded;
56 homes seriously damaged;
2 homes destroyed.