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This Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Dominican Republic is experiencing severe meteorological impacts from Hurricane Melissa, a rapidly intensifying Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 225 km/h (140 mph).
The hurricane’s extensive rainbands are causing torrential rains across the island, especially in the southern region of Hispaniola, as the storm slowly moves westward toward Jamaica.
Rainfall accumulations have already exceeded several inches since the storm’s early stages as a tropical depression, with forecasts predicting between 38 and 76 centimeters (15 to 30 inches) through Wednesday, and isolated areas with the potential to exceed 101 centimeters (40 inches).
This comes after the storm stalled over the region last week, exacerbating flooding risks.
The immediate effects of Hurricane Melissa in the Dominican Republic include widespread flooding and infrastructure overload, adding to the damage caused by its initial landfall as Tropical Storm Melissa earlier this week.
Catastrophic flash floods have inundated streets and low-lying areas, especially in Santo Domingo, where homes have been swept away and communities isolated.
Numerous landslides have been triggered in mountainous terrain, blocking roads and threatening rural villages.
Nearly 200 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and persistent heavy rains have exacerbated structural vulnerabilities.
Water supply systems have been rendered unusable, affecting more than 500,000 residents and causing drinking water shortages.
At least three deaths from flooding and landslides have been reported in the last week, and hundreds of people, including pets, have been evacuated from flooded homes by the Dominican Civil Defense. Airports and seaports remain closed, disrupting travel and emergency response.
These impacts are compounded by the storm’s massive wind field, which stretches hundreds of miles and connects rain bands from South America to the Dominican Republic.
The short-term consequences are severe, with life-threatening conditions due to the storm’s slow movement:
Prolonged exposure to flooding raises concerns about waterborne illnesses, electrical hazards caused by downed power lines, and the isolation of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and low-income communities in flood-prone areas.
Agriculture, a key sector, faces crop losses due to flooded fields, while tourism, vital to the economy, has ground to a halt due to hotel evacuations and flight cancellations.
Power outages are widespread, straining emergency services and daily life.
Increased erosion from landslides and flooding could lead to long-term soil degradation and river pollution, affecting ecosystems and fisheries in Caribbean coastal areas.
Authorities have activated emergency shelters, distributed aid, and urged residents to avoid travel, but the heavy rainfall has overwhelmed some response capacities.
Hurricane Melissa’s passage through the Dominican Republic highlights the growing vulnerability of Caribbean nations to intensifying Atlantic hurricanes, possibly related to rising ocean temperatures due to climate change.
While the core of the storm moves toward Jamaica, where it could reach Category 5 status and cause even greater devastation, the Dominican Republic will experience heavy rains and the risk of flooding through midweek, with the National Hurricane Center warning of “catastrophic” potential for further landslides and isolation.
Recovery efforts will likely prioritize restoring water supplies and rebuilding homes, but experts emphasize the need to improve the resilience of regional infrastructure, such as improving drainage systems and early warning networks, to mitigate future events.
Residents are advised to monitor updates from local authorities and prepare for prolonged disruptions; for now, the situation remains fluid, with no immediate end expected.
