Climate - Dominican Republic

Index

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• Introduction
• North coast - Puerto Plata
• South coast - Santo Domingo, Punta Cana
• Sea temperature
• Hills and mountains - Constanza
• Hurricanes
• When to go
• What to pack

Introduction

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The Dominican Republic, the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola, has a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a hotter and muggy season from May to October and a relatively cool season from December to March, while November and April are intermediate months.
As regards to the rainfall, along the eastern and southern coasts, there is a rainy season between late April and October, while the northern coast, exposed to the trade winds, is rainy throughout the year, although the north-western coast experiences a decrease in rainfall from June to September.
Temperatures in the Dominican Republic are high throughout the year, at least in the plains, however, during the summer season, from May to October, the heat is sweltering, while it is more pleasant, but still a bit humid, in winter.
Because of the north-east trade winds, which blow from November to March, the north facing slopes are usually wetter than those exposed to the south. However, the presence of mountain ranges can increase or decrease the effect of the trade winds, so much so that some areas have a very humid climate and a lush vegetation, while others are nearly barren.
For example in Azua, on the coast of the Ocoa Bay, only 640 millimeters (25 inches) of rain fall per year, and even less at Lake Enriquillo, closed between the two Sierras; the south-west coast of the Pedernales province is quite arid as well. On the contrary, in Santo Domingo, which lies on the southern coast but it's not protected by mountains, rainfall amounts to about 1,450 mm (57 in) per year.
In the Dominican Republic, as generally happens in the Caribbean, the rains occur mainly as short showers and thunderstorms, sometimes intense, which therefore do not reduce the sunshine hours by much; moreover they are often concentrated in certain periods, so it might not rain for an entire week even in the rainy season.
Every now and then, from December to March, the country can be affected by some frontal systems from the United States, which can bring clouds and rains, and also a cool wind, able to lower the temperature by a few degrees, although in a less noticeable way than in Cuba and Yucatan (Mexico), which are closer to the American continent. However, in these cases, the temperature can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in the inland hilly areas, and around freezing in the mountains.

North coast

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As mentioned, on the north coast, exposed to the north-east trade winds, it rains even in winter.
In the western part (see San Fernando de Monte Cristi, Luperón, and the Amber Coast), the rains follow a particular pattern, opposite to the one typical of the Caribbean, in fact, the least rainy season is summer, from June to September (although this does not happen every year), while the winter season, when the north-east trade winds blow, is rainy.

Puerto Plata

Here are the average temperatures of Puerto Plata, on the so-called Amber Coast.

In Puerto Plata, the wettest months are even November and December, ie the first months when the trade winds blow, while from June to September, the rains are not abundant.

In Puerto Plata, the sun frequently shines for most of the year, but it does not shine as often as on the southern coast, especially in the months when the trade winds blow.

Further to the east, in the Samaná peninsula (see Sánchez, Samaná), the summer is rainy as well, so, since there is no dry season, we can speak of equatorial climate.
Here is the average rainfall in Sabana de la Mar, located in the same area, south of the peninsula.

South coast

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On the southern coast, temperatures are a bit higher in winter, as the aforementioned north-east trade winds come from the interior and not directly from the sea.
The rainy season tends to go from May to October, but there are areas where rainfall decreases in July and August, and goes under 100 mm (4 in) per month. In addition, in the south-west, there are also semi-arid zones, where rainfall drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and sometimes, it even reaches 500 mm (20 in).
For example, in Barahona, where 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain fall per year, in July and August, i.e. between the two wettest periods (May-June and September-October), there is a clear decrease, and the rainfall drops to 40 mm (1.5 in) in July. Here is the average rainfall in Barahona.

Santo Domingo

The capital, Santo Domingo, is located in the central part of the south coast. Here are the average temperatures at Las Américas airport.

In Santo Domingo, the wettest period is the hottest, from May to October, as normally happens in the Caribbean. Here is the average precipitation.

In Santo Domingo, the sun frequently shines all year round, as can be seen in the following table.

Punta Cana

On the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, we find Punta Cana. Here, the temperatures are fairly uniform, but here too, there is a cooler period from December to March, and a hot and muggy period from May to October. Here are the average temperatures.

In Punta Cana, precipitation amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year, so the rainfall is not very abundant. The rains from May to December are fairly constant and not very abundant. Here is the average precipitation.

In Punta Cana too, the sun frequently shines all year round.

Sea temperature

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In the Dominican Republic, the sea is warm enough to swim in throughout the year: the water temperature ranges from 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) from January to March to 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October, as can be seen from the sea temperature near Santo Domingo.

Hills and mountains

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In the mountainous areas, of course, the temperature decreases with altitude.

Constanza

In Constanza, 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) above sea level, winter nights are cool, in fact, the average low temperature in January is 9 °C (48 °F), and it can sometimes get cold and approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), but during the day, the weather is pleasantly warm, around 23 °C (73 °F), while in summer, the temperatures are slightly higher. Here are the average temperatures.

If you want to climb the Cordillera Central, maybe up to Pico Duarte, which exceeds 3,000 meters (10,000 ft), remember that the temperature decreases by an average of about 6 degrees Celsius every 1,000 meters (3.3 °F every 1,000 feet).

Hurricanes

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From June to November, the Dominican Republic can be affected by hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, which, however, are most likely between August and October. The destructive Category 4 or 5 hurricanes are very rare, but when they directly hit a particular area, they can cause considerable damage. Tropical storms, less intense than cyclones, are more frequent and on average hit the country once every two years.
The country was hit hard by the "Dominican Republic hurricane" in September 1930, by hurricane David on August 31, 1979, and by hurricane Georges in September 1998.
In any case, tropical storms can produce heavy rains in inland mountainous areas even if they are not intense, causing landslides and floods.

When to go

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The best time to visit the Dominican Republic is the dry season, which however is not the same everywhere.
In the inland valleys and along the south coast (see Santo Domingo, Punta Cana), the best period is from December to mid-April.
On the northern coast, especially in the areas in which there is no real dry season (province of Samaná, Sabana de la Mar), you can choose February and March, which are the least rainy months.
In summer, the weather is hot and sultry, and there's the danger of hurricanes. However, if you want to go in summer, there are several areas where it does not rain a lot, in particular, the north-western coast, from the Haitian border to the Amber Coast (where the least rainy season is the period from June to September), the south-west coast, and the part of the south coast to the east of Santo Domingo (up to Punta Cana). In June and July, the likelihood of hurricanes is lower than in August.

What to pack

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From November to April: bring light clothes, a sun hat, sunscreen, and a sweatshirt for the evening. For the mountains, a jacket, a sweater, and hiking boots.
From May to October, bring lightweight clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms. For the mountains, a jacket, a sweatshirt, and hiking boots.

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