Two Doppler radars ready for 2025 hurricane season

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader announced that the Dominican government is strengthening its preparations for the 2025 hurricane season by incorporating two operational Doppler radars located in Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, and installing a third at Las Américas International Airport (AILA). This enhancement is part of a comprehensive contingency plan led by various emergency response agencies.

During his weekly press briefing, La Semanal con la Prensa, the president shared that the upcoming hurricane season is expected to be highly active, with forecasts predicting 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. There’s a 60% chance the season will be above average. The storm names for 2025 include Andrea, Barry, Chantal, and others up to Wendy.

High-risk areas for hurricanes, floods, and landslides include provinces like Pedernales, Barahona, the National District, Puerto Plata, and La Vega. The government has identified over 2,700 shelters, and the Emergency Operations Center (COE) operates around the clock to coordinate response efforts involving 22 institutions.

The National Contingency Plan includes three phases: public awareness, strategic response actions, and recovery support. The plan also defines alert levels—green, yellow, and red—to signal the severity of upcoming threats and guide emergency measures accordingly.