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NewsWhore
08-23-2012, 02:10 PM
The good news is that Isaac will hit Dominican Republic's southern coastline as a tropical storm on Friday, not as a hurricane as originally forecast. On a more southern course, the storm will increase in strength to become Hurricane Isaac when it approaches the southwestern provinces of Barahona and Pedernales and crosses over to Haiti on Friday afternoon, 24 August. The bad news is that Isaac is now treading at half the displacement speed, making it more of a risk for floods and mudslides.

Heavy rains and tropical storm-force winds should be felt on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic late tonight. Reports are that Las Americas International Airport will probably close on Friday.

Tropical Storm Isaac is moving east/southeast of Saona Island. The Emergency Operations Center (coe.gob.do) has ordered a Red Alert from Saona Island on the southeast to Pedernales on the southwestern coast. From Saona Island around to Manzanillo Bay a Yellow Alert was issued for tropical storm conditions. An alert means that within 48 hours the threatened areas can feel one or two effects associated with a tropical cyclone.

Rains and strong wind gusts are forecast for early Friday morning as the storm passes south making its way to cross at the Barahona southwestern point. The storm is expected to cross the island of Hispaniola through Haiti Friday night or Saturday morning. The turn to the northeast will also take it across eastern Cuba as it makes its way to Florida.

The provinces within the Red Alert areas are: La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Greater Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo and the Nacional District), San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, Peravia, Azua, Pedernales, Barahona, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, Independencia, Bahoruco and Elias Pina. At the same time the Yellow Alert affects the provinces of Samana, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Duarte, Sanchez Ramirez, Monsenor Nouel, La Vega, Santiago, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, Puerto Plata, Valverde, Santiago Rodriguez, Dajabon and Montecristi.

Given the high risk of floods and mudslides, all in the Dominican Republic are advised to monitor the storm closely. The Weather Office (Onamet) says that 2 to 8 inches of rain (50mm to 200mm) are expected. Sustained winds are 75 kms per hour. Traffic is chaotic in Santo Domingo during heavy rains.

For background on hurricanes in the Dominican Republic, see http://dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml

www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/123903-stormy-season-2012-a.html (http://www.dr1.com/forums/weather-beyond/123903-stormy-season-2012-a.html)

For more on ongoing and upcoming events, see http://dr1.com/calendar

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