Special for followers of codigopostalrd.net
Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the central Caribbean Sea on October 21, 2025, and by October 22, its center was located approximately 520 kilometers south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with maximum sustained winds of 80 km/h (50 mph). Moving slowly west-northwest at 3 km/h (1.9 mph), its extensive rainbands have already begun to affect the Dominican Republic (DR), particularly the southern and central regions.
Beginning on October 22, Melissa is forecast to stall near Hispaniola (the island shared by the DR and Haiti) over the weekend, and could intensify into a hurricane by October 25.
This slow movement, combined with the DR’s mountainous terrain and its vulnerability to heavy rainfall, has increased the risk of flooding from overflowing rivers and streams.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has identified flash flooding and significant landslides as the primary threats. No direct wind impacts are expected in the Dominican Republic, but prolonged rainfall exacerbates water risks.
The storm’s outer bands have brought torrential rains since October 21, causing rapid overflows of rivers, streams, and urban drainage systems.
Urban flooding was reported in Santo Domingo (the capital) and southern provinces such as Barahona, Pedernales, and the Franja Sur (southern border region).
In low-lying neighborhoods near rivers such as the Yaque del Sur and the Ozama, water levels have risen rapidly, with flooding of between 1 and 2 meters in some residential areas.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) has declared a red alert for much of the country, evacuating residents from flood-prone areas.
Accumulated rainfall is expected to reach 5 to 10 inches in the southern Dominican Republic through October 22, with forecasts predicting up to 12 to 18 inches through October 25 (and locally higher in isolated areas, according to AccuWeather’s Local StormMax™ of 30 inches).
Northern areas, such as Santiago, could see 2 to 4 inches, but the southern mountainous regions are at greater risk of stream overflow.
Flooding in streams and ravines has been widespread, especially in mountainous terrain where runoff converges rapidly. No major river overflows have been reported yet, but geologist Osiris de León warned of ongoing threats to areas near these waterways.
The floods have created immediate humanitarian and infrastructure challenges, with long-term risks due to the stagnation of the storm:
Hundreds have been displaced, mainly from communities along the southern border. No deaths have been confirmed in the Dominican Republic as of October 22, but the COE reports risks to vulnerable populations in informal settlements.
In Santo Domingo, professional baseball games were canceled, disrupting daily life. The broader Caribbean context (including Haiti) raises concerns about cross-border migration if flooding worsens.
More than 549,000 users are without drinking water due to aqueduct failures and contamination from overflows. Possible power outages in rural areas, along with washed-out roads and bridges.
Early reports indicate minor structural damage to homes and vehicles due to rising waters.
Agriculture in the fertile southern valleys faces crop losses due to soil erosion and sedimentation. Landslides on deforested hillsides could bury communities, evoking past events such as Hurricane Mitch (1998), which caused billions in damage across the region.
Melissa’s storm surge also generates strong waves on the eastern coasts, posing a drowning risk.
Standing waters increase the likelihood of waterborne diseases such as leptospirosis, especially with water service interruptions.
These consequences are exacerbated by the Dominican Republic’s geography. Steep slopes accelerate stream overflows, while urban encroachment on floodplains (for example, in Santo Domingo) turns light rainfall into major events.
The flooding caused by Tropical Storm Melissa in the Dominican Republic highlights the Caribbean’s vulnerability to slow-moving storms at the end of hurricane season, where rain, not wind, poses the most deadly threat. As of October 22, impacts remained manageable with proactive evacuations, but the stalled forecast could elevate it to a “catastrophic” event (according to AccuWeather’s RealImpact™ Scale of 4), potentially rivaling historic flooding in scope if totals exceed 38 cm. Key lessons include the need for improved early warning systems, reforestation to mitigate landslides, and urban planning to protect riverside communities.
Relief efforts are underway through the EOC and Civil Defense, focusing on the southern provinces. Residents should heed red alerts, avoid streambeds, and prepare for power outages until at least October 27. Beyond the immediate crisis, this event highlights the climate-driven intensification of storms, urging regional investment in resilient infrastructure. Monitor NHC updates for track changes, as a westward turn could reduce DR totals but increase risks in Jamaica….
