WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
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RA IV HURRICANE COMMITTEE
RA IV/HC-XXXIII/Doc. 4.2(7)
(16.II.2011)
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ITEM 4.2
THIRTY-THIRD SESSION
Original: SPANISH
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS
8 TO 12 MARCH 2011
REVIEW OF THE PAST HURRICANE SEASON
REPORTS OF HURRICANES, TROPICAL STORMS,
TROPICAL DISTURBANCES AND
FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH THESE EVENTS DURING 2010
(Submitted by the Dominican Republic)
RA IV/HC-XXXIII/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 2
DOMINICAN INSTITUTE OF CIVIL AVIATION
NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
Impacts of Hurricane Tomas on the Dominican Republic
2010 Cyclone Season
(Submitted by the Dominican Republic)
1.
Introduction
Although the 2010 cyclone season was quite active in the Atlantic Basin in the Northern
Hemisphere, it proved fairly quiet for the Dominican Republic, which was most affected by
Hurricane Tomas. This reached the south of our island in the first ten days of December, heading
westward, after which it veered north then northeast, passing between the eastern tip of Cuba and
Haiti. It produced heavy rainfall only in the southwestern areas, the Cordillera Central mountain
range and the western region. There were no casualties.
Other particularly noteworthy hurricanes were Earl and Igor, which reached the northeast
of the Leeward Islands, moving in a northeasterly direction over the north Atlantic, where they
caused abnormal winds and waves along the northern coast of Quisqueya. The Meteorological
Service issued warnings to vessels operating off the eastern and northern coasts of the country.
2.
Impacts of Hurricane Tomas on the Dominican Republic
As can be seen on the map below, the most significant rainfall in the Dominican Republic
over a period of seven (7) days was recorded in the southern part of the country, some isolated
areas in the east, the northeastern region, and the south, west and southwest.
Fig.1.- Map of accumulated rainfall over a period of 168 hours
*
Note: Sin datos = No data
The channel’s infrared satellite image for 10.45 UTC on 5 November 2010 showed large
areas of cloud and heavy rain across the whole of the south of the country, eastern and central
areas, the southwest, and the entire border region.
RA IV/HC-XXXIII/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 3
Fig.2.- Satellite image for 10.45 UTC on 05/11/2010
The Meteorological Service issued warnings and alerts of possible flooding and landslides
resulting from the heavy rain, and abnormal conditions, waves and winds along the Caribbean
coast, with both tropical storms and hurricane conditions. A warning of tropical storm conditions in
the early hours of Saturday, 6 November was issued for Manzanillo Bay westward, including
Puerto Plata, as Tomas passed some 160 kilometres northwest of Monte Cristi and some
240 kilometres west/northwest of Puerto Plata.
Fig.3.- Map showing the areas for which warnings were issued by the Dominican Republic’s Emergency
Operations Centre (COE)
The following table shows the accumulated values for each drainage basin and the
maximum value recorded for each location.
BASIN
Yaque del Norte
Costa Norte
Dajabon
Ozama
San P. de Macorís
Higuey
Yuna
Miches y S. de la Mar
Accumulated value
(mm)
611.1
759.5
237.1
1542.0
462.1
210.6
1259.4
272.6
Maximum value and location
115.0 (Monción)
155.4 (A. La Unión, Puerto Plata)
137.8 (Loma de Cabrera)
309.4 (A. Las Americas)
190.7 (La Romana)
87.0 (S. Rafael del Yuma)
204.0 (Villa Riva)
152.2 (Sabana de la Mar)
RA IV/HC-XXXIII/Doc. 4.2(7), p. 4
BASIN
Bani y San Cristóbal
Yaque del Sur
Barahona
Enrriquillo
Artibonito
Samana
Accumulated value
(mm)
1208.8
821.5
370.7
192.1
267.4
384.2
Maximum value and location
258.4 (Azua)
356.8 (Polo)
210.3 (Pedernales)
128.1 (Neyba)
101.4 (El Cercado)
109.6 (A. Catey)
According to information from the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Centre
(COE), the adverse conditions associated with the passing of Hurricane Tomas were as follows:
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Abnormal swells and breakers along the Caribbean coast. Traffic problems affecting
Avenida 30 de Mayo and Haina;
13,230 people evacuated, and 76 communities without communications, including
40 in Azua, also in Pedernales because of the collapse of the Agüita bridge;
A number of bridges collapsed in San Cristóbal;
Collapse of the bridge linking Duverge and Neyba.
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References:
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Data from the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Centre.
Data archive of the Forecasting Division of the Dominican Republic’s National Meteorology Office.
Data from the Climatology Division of the National Meteorology Office.
Hydrometeorology Division of the National Meteorology Office.