La Niña returns, increasing risk of flooding and extreme weather

Santo Domingo.- The La Niña weather phenomenon has returned, and experts warn it will bring heavy rains, flooding, and a notable drop in temperatures across much of the Dominican Republic in the coming months. La Niña occurs when equatorial Pacific waters cool more than usual, altering wind patterns and atmospheric circulation, which indirectly affects the Caribbean climate.

Meteorologists predict that La Niña will increase the frequency of troughs, tropical waves, low-pressure systems, and other atmospheric disturbances, raising the risk of flash floods, similar to the extreme rainfall event of November 4, 2022. On the positive side, the phenomenon also encourages frontal systems and polar air masses, leading to cooler temperatures, especially in mountainous areas like Valle Nuevo (-7°C to -8°C) and Pico Duarte (below 0°C).

Authorities caution that the risk of storms and hurricanes remains, as La Niña reduces wind shear, facilitating the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones in the Caribbean Sea. Climate models indicate that La Niña will stay active until February or March 2026 before shifting to a neutral phase, maintaining periods of rainfall throughout the country.