Tropical wave and cold front means rains this Sunday and the beginning of the work week

Santo Domingo—A tropical wave is located over Puerto Rico and will pass this Sunday over the Dominican Republic. The incidence of a trough and the approach of a frontal system (cold front) located to the north in the Atlantic will maintain the conditions for this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to continue the rains in the country.

José Medina, forecaster of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), informed Diario Libre that the tropical wave is located this Sunday morning to the south of Puerto Rico, affecting that country. However, it will cross today over the Dominican Republic, extending the rains that have been registered since early this morning. This tropical wave extends from Puerto Rico to the south, reaching Venezuela.

Map showing a vertical orange line representing the tropical wave extending southward from Puerto Rico to Venezuela (NOAA).

The Indomet report states that in the afternoon and early evening, there will be an increase in rainfall, which may be moderate to heavy, affecting Greater Santo Domingo, La Altagracia, El Seibo, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, San Cristobal, Samana, Duarte, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monseñor Nouel, San Jose de Ocoa, La Vega, Azua, San Juan de la Maguana, Santiago de los Caballeros, Puerto Plata and Espaillat.

NASA map showing rainfall zones (NASA).

In Greater Santo Domingo, cloud increases are expected in the morning with showers, but by the afternoon, heavy downpours, thunderstorms, and wind gusts are expected. Even, according to the forecaster, the rest of the day and the early morning of this Monday rains are expected in this distinction.

Cold front and better temperatures

The Indomet forecaster noted that a new system or cold front, located north of the country in the Atlantic Ocean, will be approaching and contributing to the rainy conditions that have been affecting the country for more than a week.

Indomet points out that “on Monday at the beginning of the work week, a humid and unstable environment will continue, due to the tropical wave plus the incidence of the trough to the south of the country, in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, in addition to the cold front over North Atlantic waters, so it is forecast especially in the morning hours, but more frequent in the afternoon cloudy increases with downpours that can be strong, thunderstorms and gusts of wind, in different locations of the regions, southeast, northeast, Central Cordillera, southwest and the border area.”

Indomet points out that on Tuesday, although the rains could be less heavy than previous days, there will be weak to moderate showers in Pedernales, Azua, Peravia, San José de Ocoa, and San Cristóbal. This activity will also extend to Montecristi, Puerto Plata, Dajabón, Santiago Rodríguez, Valverde, Santiago, and La Vega, “especially in the afternoon, after the passage of the tropical wave, as well as the cold front to the north, which will be cooling temperatures, especially in the northern part and in the mountain systems of the country.”

The cold front’s influence tends to improve temperatures even more, although its main influence is in the northern part and mountain systems.

In the case of the National District, yesterday, Saturday, the maximum temperature was 29 °C and the minimum of 24 °C, which represents a drop compared to last month when even in autumn up to 34 °C were being recorded.