The agency attributed these conditions to a combination of factors: the summer season, a high-pressure system, the presence of Saharan dust, and the influence of the El Nino event —all of which favor above-normal temperatures and drier conditions in the Caribbean.

According to forecasts by the Climate Weather Center of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this pattern will persist for the next two weeks, particularly in the country’s northern, northwestern, and southwestern regions.

Illustrating the intensity of this heat spell, Indomet reported that new temperature records were set in several Dominican locations during June.

The highest temperature was recorded in Sabaneta, Santiago Rodriguez province, where the thermometer hit 39.9 degrees Celsius—the highest temperature ever documented at that station, surpassing a record that had stood since 1964.

In light of this situation, authorities advised the public to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure during peak radiation hours, and pay special attention to children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses, as these groups are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

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