The weather in The Dominican Republic is best described as tropical, the country has sunny days year-round and average annual temperatures hovering around 80°F (26° C). Variations from that average are determined more by attitude than anything else.
Temperatures at higher levels in the central mountain range can drop into the 60s F (17° – 18° C), and it’s not uncommon to see temperatures above 90°F (32°C) in the coastal areas. Northeast winds blow off the Atlantic Coast year-round and especially on the northern side of the island. In the Capital Santo Domingo, the average temperature is 75°F (24°C) in January and 80°F (27°C) in July. On average, the Weather in the Dominican Republic is great all year long.
Year-round weather in the Dominican Republic
Changes in the Dominican seasons mean changes in rainfall patterns as opposed to changes in temperature. The rainy season for the north coast of the island runs from November to January; for the rest of the island, rain falls more regularly between May and November. During the rainy season, showers tend to fall mainly in the afternoons with short bursts, after which sunshine returns.
*The red line is average day temperature and the blue line is average night temperature in the Dominican Republic
The northeast mountains region receives the most torrential rains, with an average annual rainfall of over 100 inches (2,540 mm). The western side of the country, along with the Haitian border, as well as the northwestern and southeastern extremes of the country, is relatively dry and usually see only about 20 inches (500mm) of annual rainfall. In the Dominican Republic, the humidity can be oppressive during the heat of summer months, but winter brings relief in the form of fresher, dry nights.
The Dominican Republic is located squarely within the hurricane belt. Hurricanes claim a unique history in the Dominican Republic, originated from the indigenous Taino people’s word for the fierce and destructive storms that can batter the island: “hurakans.” When Europeans arrived in the Dominican Republic in the 16th century, they had never seen weather to equal a tropical storm and had no word for them. Hurakan quickly became a borrowed word and was incorporated into Spanish as huracán. Hurricane is the anglicized form.
Hurricane season in the Dominican Republic is from June to November. Historically the most active months are September and October, but some of the most severe storms have come significantly earlier in the year; it’s impossible to predict when the rains will come. Most of the time, this is only known within days before arrival, and still, anything could change. While a significant storm hits once every quarter-century, the island is affected by at least outer bands of storms more frequently, close to every five years. Weather in the Dominican Republic is, on average perfect. Therefore we would recommend a visit year-round.
Click here to find the real-time weather for Cap el Limon in Playa Moron.
