Summer 2025 officially begins: Get ready for extreme heat in the Dominican Republic!

Ready for the heat? This Friday, June 21, marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it, the most extreme temperatures of the year in the Dominican Republic.

Santo Domingo.- Although the heat has been stifling since April, weather analyst Jean Suriel warns that, starting today, conditions are ripe for even higher temperatures, due to the start of astronomical summer.

The summer solstice and the longest day of the year

Summer begins with the solstice, which will occur tonight at 10:42 PM (Dominican time). At that time, the Northern Hemisphere will be tilted more toward the sun, receiving more hours of sunlight.

Today marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night in the country. The sun rose at 5:58 AM in Punta Cana and set at 7:26 PM in Jimaní, for a total of 13 hours and 15 minutes of daylight.

This season will last 93 days and 16 hours, concluding on September 22, when autumn begins.

Extreme heat on the way: the hottest year yet?

Suriel warns that 2025 could surpass 2024 as the hottest year on record in the Northern Hemisphere and the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, the peak heat is expected between August and October, with extreme temperatures, especially in northwestern provinces such as:

• Dajabón
• Independence
• Elias Piña
• Santiago Rodríguez
• Monte Cristi
• Valverde

In these areas, temperatures could reach between 43°C and 44°C.

The expert also emphasizes the importance of protecting yourself from heat exhaustion, especially during these months when the health risk is high. Heat waves, combined with environmental pollution, cause millions of deaths worldwide each year.