HOLY SUNDAY.– Although in the current cyclonic season no phenomenon has yet moved through the Caribbean, in the last 100 years six cyclones have impacted the territory of the Dominican Republic in the month of Octoberaccording to the records of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States and the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet).
To date, this season they have formed ten tropical cyclones: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda and Jerry. None have directly affected the Caribbean, where the Dominican Republic is located. The most recent, Jerrythe October 7 as a tropical storm and is expected to move northeastward, away from the Lesser Antilles.
October cyclones in the last century
Meteorological history indicates that the first cyclone that impacted the country in October occurred on October 14, 1943when a hurricane came through the La Altagracia provincecrossed The Seibo and sailed away across the Atlantic with winds exceeding 120 kilometers per hour. At that time, cyclones did not yet receive names.
He second event was registered on October 17, 1955with the Hurricane Katiewhich impacted Barahona with winds of more than 120 km/h.
He third cyclone occurred on October 3, 1961when the French tropical storm affected the provinces La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor and Samaná.
He fourth case was the October 7, 1985with the Tropical Storm Isabelwhich made landfall Baní (Peravia) and moved towards Azuathen leaving for the Atlantic between Puerto Plata and Montecristi.
He fifth phenomenon occurred on October 10, 2003with the Tropical Storm Mindywhich formed north of Greater Herd and crossed Samana before leaving for the Atlantic.
Finally, the sixth cyclone of october was the Tropical Storm Alphawhich affected the country October 23, 2005 through the provinces of Barahona and Pedernales. That year they formed 28 cyclones during the cyclonic season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
The memory of the storm Noel (2007)
Although it did not directly impact the national territory, the Tropical Storm Noelformed the October 28, 2007 in the south of the country, caused serious human and material damage. As it moved towards the north-northwest, it caused heavy rains in Barahona, Azua, Bahoruco, San José de Ocoa, Peravia, San Cristóbal, Monseñor Nouel and Duartecausing the overflowing of rivers such as the Yaque del Sur.
According to reports from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)Noel left a balance of 87 people dead, 42 missing, 64,096 evacuated and 1,526 rescued.
Meteorologists agree that Christmas It is one of the cyclones most devastating that has affected the Dominican Republic in recent decades, despite not having made landfall directly.
