Today's weather for Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic22nd Nov 2009 05:00

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Weather Overview for Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata receives a tropical climate typical of the Caribbean Islands. High temperatures and rainfall can be guaranteed year round. The winter season is slightly cooler than the summer and is the best time to visit. The resort is a port town on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. This area is susceptible to hurricanes; the hurricane season runs from June till November with risk being greatest towards the end of the season.

Summer, from April till November, begins and ends with peaks in rainfall. Storms in the tropics are always dramatic. Sunny skies are suddenly obliterated by thick clouds and when the storm breaks rain pummels the ground, falling fast in giant, warm drops. The storms are short and their ends are as abrupt as their onsets. Late summer sees the heaviest storms while in early summer they are marginally lighter, falling more frequently. The average high temperature rises from 30°C in April to a peak of 33°C in August and September, getting back down to 30°C in November. Humidity is at its highest in summer and night times can be stifling with temperatures usually still around 20°C; trying to sleep without air-conditioning is frustrating. If you aren’t used to this kind of weather you are bound to feel uncomfortable; it may take you a few days to acclimatise to the heat and humidity of summer in the Carribean. The east wind blows in from the sea, providing a little relief. The hurricane season falls within summer, August to September being the period of greatest risk. If travelling at this time a little research into hurricane activity in the area is a must; luckily, hurricanes are often predictable. It is sunniest from June till August, seeing around eight hours of sunshine per day, though the sun can stay out for up to thirteen hours.

Winter, from December till March, begins with the worst of the rains and then a definite reprieve from the end of December. The average high temperature drops to 28°C in December, which is the annual low, and remains at 28°C through till February. Most people will find this slightly reduced heat and lower humidity level preferable to the summer months. Nights are almost refreshingly cool, seeing an average low of 17°C. However, sunshine does reduce to around six hours per day so it can often be overcast. It is important to remember that in the tropics the UV factor is high year round, even when you can’t see the sun, and you should always use sun block.

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Hispaniola is one of the Greater Antilles that curl around the northern limits of the Caribbean Sea with the North Atlantic to the east. Puerto Plata owes its climate to its near-equatorial position and position between the Carribean and Atlantic. The sea helps to moderate the extremes of temperature seen at similar latitudes, for instance in the Sahara, but is also partially to blame for the formation of hurricanes in the area. Mountainous areas behind Puerto Plata receive cooler temperatures due to their elevation.

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