Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 1; No threat to Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- Hurricane Isaias strengthened Thursday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico, while the Dominican Republic remains outside the storm’s projected path and faces no direct threat from the system.
According to the latest advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Isaias was located about 280 kilometers northeast of Progreso, Mexico, moving east-northeast at 15 km/h. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h and a minimum central pressure of 975 millibars.
The NHC expects Isaias to continue moving northeast and then north, passing north of the Yucatán Peninsula before reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. Hurricane and storm surge warnings are in effect along portions of the coasts of Mississippi and Florida, while tropical storm warnings cover parts of Louisiana and Florida.
The system is forecast to strengthen further before reaching the U.S. Gulf Coast. The NHC warns of potentially dangerous storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall, with flash and urban flooding possible across parts of the central Gulf Coast and the Southeast.
Weather conditions in the Dominican Republic
For the Dominican Republic, the current weather pattern is being influenced by an active tropical wave, with showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds expected in parts of the southeast, southwest, Central Mountain Range and Greater Santo Domingo.
Residents in these areas are advised to remain alert for localized flooding, particularly during periods of heavier rainfall.
Temperatures will remain high across much of the country, with maximum values expected to range between 33 °C and 35 °C. Authorities recommend staying hydrated, wearing lightweight clothing and limiting direct exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day.
The strengthening of Isaias does not currently represent a direct threat to the Dominican Republic, but residents should continue to follow updates from Dominican meteorological authorities as conditions evolve.
