Chantal buffets Dominican Republic’s south coast as warnings continue

Santo Domingo.- As of 10am Tropical Storm Chantal’s center was located near Latitude 16.5 north and longitude 72.0 west, 115 kilometers south of Beata island (southwest) near Pedernales, according to the National Weather Bureau.

Meanwhile the National Hurricane Center in Miami Wednesday morning said a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane determined that Chantal is still a tropical storm, moving west at 29 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

Chantal’s current coordinates make them the closest point to Dominican Republic reached by the tropical storm thus far, for which severe weather warnings are still in effect across the country.