The Dominican Republic is located in north-central Caribbean and is part of the Greater Antilles. It occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the West. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic was the first European settlement in America.
The Dominican Republic is a very mountainous country with peaks over three thousand meters in the Cordillera Central. The mountains cause a significant change in climateacross the country. Hurricanes also can affect The Dominican Republic, especially the eastern and southern coasts. The reason for this is due to fact that most hurricanes approach from either the east over the Lesser Antilles or from the southeast after passing through the eastern Caribbean Sea.
Rainfall
The rainfall pattern is complex across The Dominican Republic. Rainfall can be over 100 inches per year over the windward slopes of the northeastern mountains. The moist tropical wind flow from the trade winds supplies abundant moisture to build heavy showers. This is especially true during the summer. The southwestern part of the country is the driest. Some valleys on the lee side of the mountains may only receive about 15 inches of rain per year on average.
Santo Domingo, as well as, the whole country except the north coast experiences a wet season from May through October. Rainfall amounts on average are between 5 1/2" to over 7 inches. The north coast faces the trade winds directly and has a wet season from October to January. The two driest months for most of the country are February and March where between two and two and one-half inches of rainfall occurs each month. Tropical storms and hurricanes do affect The Dominican Republic occasionally and can bring 10-20 inches or more of rainfall.
Temperatures
Temperatures in the Dominican Republic change very little during the Year. Summer average high in the upper 80's and winter maximum mid-80s. Summer in the low low 70's and lows in autumn and winter high 60. Temperatures can vary greatly across the country. The regions to the arid south-west with the first record in 90 near or above 100 degrees in summer. Winter temperatures are below freezing near the highest point of the Cordillera Central. Frost is possible even in the highestvalleys.
Travel Weather Summary
The Dominican Republic has a complex climate regime due to its very high mountains. Most of the resorts are located in the beach areas, which has a very comfortable, mild climate. Many days are filled with sunshine with a passing shower. Vacationers wishing to minimize their chance of seeing rain should travel in the late winter or early spring. Travelers should stay informed on tropical weather information, especially during the hurricane season.
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