On October 24, 2025, the Dominican Republic will experience extreme weather conditions brought on by Tropical Storm Melissa, the thirteenth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
The storm is located approximately 425 kilometers south-southwest of Barahona, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds to much of the country.
This phenomenon is exacerbated by broader seasonal factors, such as the emergence of La Niña, which increases the risk of rainfall and flooding in the Caribbean.
October is typically the wettest month in the Dominican Republic, with average daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F) and highs of 30°C (86°F) in coastal areas such as Punta Cana. However, current conditions pose increased risks due to extreme rainfall.
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo closed its doors for the day due to the storm’s aftermath, and the National Emergency Operations Center (COE) issued red alerts for several provinces, including Greater Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales, San José de Ocoa, and San Juan.
Recent meteorological reports highlight continued heavy rains, urban flooding in cities such as Santiago de los Caballeros, and warnings of possible river overflows and landslides.
The immediate impacts of Tropical Storm Melissa are widespread, affecting public safety, infrastructure, and daily life.
Heavy rains have caused urban and rural flooding, with reports of flooded streets in Santo Domingo and Santiago. Rivers and streams are rising, increasing the risk of overflowing in low-lying areas.
Power outages and road closures are common, disrupting transportation and commerce.
At least one death has been reported in neighboring Haiti from related flooding, with similar risks in the Dominican Republic from landslides and drowning.
High humidity (often exceeding 80%) and temperatures dropping to 21–23°C at night exacerbate discomfort and the risk of diseases, including those transmitted by vectors.
Coastal areas face increased erosion and saltwater intrusion, while inland regions suffer from soil saturation that could lead to agricultural losses. The storm’s interaction with La Niña has amplified rainfall totals, with more than 15 cm of rain in some areas in the last 24 hours.
These acute effects align with broader climate patterns, with the Dominican Republic ranking as the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change globally due to its exposure to intensified storms.
These consequences are exacerbated by the Dominican Republic’s coastal urbanization (more than 60% of the population) and its limited adaptive capacity, where climate events already represent an annual cost of 1-2% of GDP.
The current crisis caused by Tropical Storm Melissa highlights the Dominican Republic’s serious vulnerability to climate change, where the intensification of hurricanes and erratic rainfall, driven by global warming and phenomena such as La Niña, threaten hard-won development gains.
While the country has made progress on policies, such as its 2020 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which seeks a 27% emissions reduction by 2030, and the 2022-2025 NDC Action Plan, focused on energy, agriculture, and waste, gaps in implementation persist.
The necessary investments for adaptation (estimated at $8.7 billion through 2030) remain underfunded, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Urgent priorities include:
Integrating climate risk into infrastructure (flood barriers, resilient crops) and expanding early warning systems, such as COE alerts.
Leveraging partnerships with the World Bank, IDB, and the UN to secure financing, as seen in recent FAO projects for land degradation neutrality.
Accelerating renewable energy (with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050) and nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration, to reduce mitigation costs and improve equity.
On this International Climate Change Day (October 24), the Dominican Republic’s reaffirmation of its global commitments is a sign of hope, but decisive action is essential to transform vulnerability into resilience and ensure an equitable future.
