Tourists Still Flocking To Dominican Republic Hotspots Despite Weather Threats

Last Updated 3 months ago

On Sunday night, Tropical Storm Franklin intensified, with its wind speeds reaching 59 miles per hour.

Recognizing the potential impact of the storm on the Dominican Republic, the Emergency Operations Center issued a yellow alert for 16 provinces.

Despite initial hopes that the storm might change course or weaken, it soon became clear that its impact was inevitable.

To prepare for the storm’s imminent arrival, Dominican authorities announced the temporary closing of several airports on Tuesday. This included Las Americas International Airport and La Romana International Airport.

On Wednesday August 23rd, Franklin finally made landfall on the Dominican Republic’s southern coast, unleashing heavy rains across the whole country. The downpours led to flooding and triggered mudslides in some areas.

@bluemichael5 Hurricane Franklin has landed here in Dominican Republic. #POC #DominicanRepublic #SantoDomingo #hurricanefranklin #PuertoRican #wearther #Rain #TheCarribian #Hurricane ♬ original sound – BlueMichael

Main Tourist Areas Spared

Franklin’s impact on some provinces of the Dominican Republic was severe. Its devastating effects resulted in two people missing and one unfortunate casualty in the San Cristóbal province.

Over 200 homes sustained damage, and a power outage left 300,000 residents without electricity.

Fortunately, major tourist destinations like Punta Cana and Samaná remained unaffected by the tropical storm’s destructive passage through the country, only experiencing light rainfall.

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The Dominican Republic’s Tourism and Hotels Association released a statement confirming no damage to lodging establishments and uninterrupted operations at Punta Cana’s airport.

Punta Cana’s airport, the busiest in the country, receives over half of the tourists visiting the Dominican Republic, and it continued to operate smoothly during the storm’s pass.

Out of the 63 flights scheduled from the US on Wednesday, August 23rd, only three were canceled.

By Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., Puerto Plata, Samaná, La Isabela, and Las Americas Airports had resumed operations. It looks like not even a mighty storm can keep travelers from flocking to this Caribbean gem!

As for Franklin, experts are still gathering data to create more accurate forecasts in regard to its behavior for the following days.

According to the latest reports, the storm will likely track northward towards the western Atlantic, where it’s expected to intensify.

This morning, Franklin was positioned approximately 690 miles south of Bermuda, with recorded wind speeds of 60mph and a movement rate of 6mph.

Experts suggest that this tropical storm has the potential to escalate into a hurricane by Saturday or Sunday, but its impact on Bermuda remains uncertain at this time.

Is It Safe To Travel To The Dominican Republic Right Now?

In short, yes. The storm’s effects will linger in some of the country’s provinces, but mainly in the form of scattered rainfall and occasional wind gusts.

Tourists still flock to the Dominican Republic all throughout hurricane season, as not even the threat of a significant storm can stave off the desire to see all this beautiful country has to offer.

If you’re planning to visit popular tourist destinations like Punta Cana or Samaná in the next few days, you can anticipate light rains.

Fortunately, these rains typically occur in the afternoon and last only a couple of hours – so your beach time will likely remain unaffected.

Traveling Safely During This Hurricane Season

When it comes to natural phenomena like hurricanes, timing is key, so it’s crucial to stay updated on the latest weather developments through reliable sources like NOAA.

This hurricane season, which began on June 1st, has already seen four named storms, all of which fortunately dissipated without major incidents.

Yet experts believe there could be at least five potential storms this season, with one having the potential to become a major hurricane.

While this may sound alarming, it’s worth noting that the Dominican Republic hasn’t experienced a major hurricane since ‘Jane’ in 2004.

Moreover, all major tourist establishments are fully equipped to ensure the safety of their visitors in case of adverse weather.

Beach and resort view in punta cana with great weather

In any case, by staying informed about the latest developments and following safety guidelines in the event of a weather threat, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable getaway to the Dominican Republic – even during hurricane season.

Just ask the thousands of travelers who continue to explore this Caribbean paradise every day!