Current Hurricanes In The Dominican Republic

Situation in recent months

The most severe hurricane to make landfall in the Dominican Republic in the past 12 months was »Erin«. It reached a wind speed of up to 138 mph on August 18, 2025 at 8:00 am local time near Luperón and was 102 miles in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a category 4 hurricane. On the open sea, speeds of up to 153 mph were measured.

Current satellite image of the North Atlantic

12:00 UTCMove the timeline below the image to see previous shots.12.02.2026 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison▶️▶️Like many other countries in the Caribbean island chain, the Dominican Republic lies just slightly south of the Atlantic hurricane belt. This runs from the west coast of Africa, across the Atlantic, through the Caribbean Sea, and into the Gulf of Mexico, with most storm systems first forming in the middle of the Atlantic and turning north in the Gulf of Mexico. In particular, the more southerly Caribbean islands are usually spared.

Hurricanes in the Atlantic are formed by particularly warm water evaporating on the open ocean. The enormous amounts of rapidly rising water cool again at high altitudes and sink again to the surface. Together with the rotation of the earth, the ascending and descending air masses are set into rotation. This also creates the classic eye of the hurricane, in which there is usually almost no wind. In the summer months, so much hot air from Africa reaches the west that the lift is particularly strong. In winter and spring, on the other hand, it is too cool for tropical cyclones to form.

In the past, most of the damage in the Dominican Republic was not caused by the sheer force of the wind. Away from the coasts, the wind speed quickly decreases and the damage is often limited to blown-over trees and damage to buildings that were built too lightly. The far greater damage is caused by enormous amounts of rain that fall around the hurricane. Flooding not only leads directly to fatalities, but also paralyzes large parts of the infrastructure.

Most violent hurricanes in the Dominican Republic since 2018

Melissa: October 17-31, 2025

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 138 mphDiameter:max. 345 milesEye:max. 18 milesAir pressure:below 896 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 4The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On October 29th, 2025 at 11:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 202 km northwest of Pepillo Salcedo in Cibao.Instead, the first landfall occurred near Juan Griego in Venezuela on October 19th at 11:00 pm.

Imelda: September 22 to October 2, 2025

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 35 mphDiameter:max. 414 milesAir pressure:below 966 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:tropical depressionAffected regionsEl ValleYumaHiguamoCibao

Erin: August 8-23, 2025

Wind speed:max. 153 mphon land:max. 138 mphDiameter:max. 410 milesAir pressure:below 915 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 4Affected regionsEl ValleCibao

Sara: November 11-18, 2024

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 23 mphDiameter:max. 460 milesAir pressure:below 997 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:tropical depressionAffected regionsEnriquillo

Rafael: November 1-10, 2024

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 46 mphon land:max. 40 mphDiameter:max. 575 milesAir pressure:below 956 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:tropical stormAffected regionsEnriquillo

Oscar: October 9-22, 2024

Wind speed:max. 86 mphon land:max. 35 mphDiameter:max. 276 milesAir pressure:below 986 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1Affected regionsEl ValleYumaCibao

Ernesto: August 9-20, 2024

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 86 mphon land:max. 78 mphDiameter:max. 288 milesAir pressure:below 967 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1Affected regionsEl ValleYumaCibao

Beryl: June 26 to July 11, 2024

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 167 mphon land:max. 155 mphDiameter:max. 253 milesEye:max. 18 milesAir pressure:below 934 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 5Affected regionsEnriquillo

Tammy: October 20-31, 2023

Wind speed:max. 86 mphDiameter:max. 196 milesAir pressure:below 965 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On October 22nd, 2023 at 8:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 371 km east of Punta Cana in El Valle.Instead, the first landfall occurred near Road Town on the British Virgin Islands on October 22nd at 5:00 pm.

Tammy: October 10-29, 2023

Wind speed:max. 86 mphDiameter:max. 276 milesAir pressure:below 965 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On October 23rd, 2023 at 11:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 371 km northeast of Punta Cana in El Valle.

Philippe: September 20 to October 6, 2023

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 46 mphDiameter:max. 460 milesAir pressure:below 998 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:tropical stormAffected regionsEl Valle

Lee: September 5-18, 2023

Wind speed:max. 119 mphDiameter:max. 421 milesAir pressure:below 926 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 3The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 12th, 2023 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 323 km northeast of Cabrera in Cibao.

Lee: September 1-17, 2023

Wind speed:max. 117 mphDiameter:max. 421 milesAir pressure:below 926 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 3The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 12th, 2023 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 323 km northeast of Cabrera in Cibao.

Franklin: August 19-29, 2023

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 90 mphon land:max. 46 mphDiameter:max. 368 milesAir pressure:below 926 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1Affected regionsEnriquilloCibao

Franklin: August 18 to September 1, 2023

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 98 mphon land:max. 58 mphDiameter:max. 391 milesAir pressure:below 926 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 2Affected regionsYumaValdesiaEnriquilloEl ValleCibao

Fiona: September 14-27, 2022

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 138 mphon land:max. 121 mphDiameter:max. 295 milesAir pressure:below 931 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 4Affected regionsEl ValleYumaCibao

Fiona: September 12-24, 2022

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 132 mphDiameter:max. 69 milesEye:max. 46 milesAir pressure:below 932 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 4The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On September 18th, 2022 at 11:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 187 km southeast of Punta Cana in El Valle.Instead, the first landfall occurred near Central Aguirre in Puerto Rico on September 18th at 8:00 am.

Iota: November 12-18, 2020

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 46 mphDiameter:max. 621 milesAir pressure:below 917 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:tropical stormAffected regionsEnriquillo

Isaias: July 28 to August 5, 2020

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 86 mphon land:max. 81 mphDiameter:max. 460 milesAir pressure:below 986 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 1Affected regionsEl ValleYumaHiguamoCibao

Dorian: August 24 to September 5, 2019

Region:Caribbean SeaWind speed:max. 115 mphDiameter:max. 46 milesEye:max. 35 milesAir pressure:below 910 mbarSaffir-Simpson scale:category 3The hurricane did not make direct landfall in the Dominican Republic. On August 29th, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 244 km northeast of Punta Cana in El Valle.Instead, the first landfall occurred near Saint Croix on the Virgin Islands on August 28th at 8:00 am.

These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated. The cover photo above is from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA/NOAA) and shows an aerial view of the southeastern Caribbean from the GOES-R satellite on Wednesday, 12:00 pm (AST).