Largest storm surge in DR

[something_of_the_night]

Originally Posted by Mirador

True, storms were then named for the saint's day. The only warning system was provided by those lucky few who possessed barometers in their homes, powered by a mechanism made with a cat gut which shrank as the atmospheric pressure dropped, moving a clock hand (You've probably seen them in museums). I read somewhere that the ciclón San Zeón was clocked at 933 mbars....

Yes, there was a zoo in La Matica island, which today is not even a shadow of it's former size. If you want to see what Boca Chica looked like before development, go to Caobita beach (10 kilometers south of the town of Barreras, Azua, on the foothills of Loma del Curro). Actually, Caobita is about 10 times the size of Boca Chica, and it is usually deserted, except for a few visitors from Azua on weekends, and some local fishermen from Los Negros and Barreras, Azua.

Thanks, Mirador.

As far as Caobita, aren't you giving away secrets? Do you want throngs of transplanted Santiagueros invading your stomping grounds?

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by something_of_the_night

Thanks, Mirador.

As far as Caobita, aren't you giving away secrets? Do you want throngs of transplanted Santiagueros invading your stomping grounds?

Caobita is the real boonies (outback), about an hour drive from the town of Azua, on terribly maintained country roads. I doubt a Santiaguero would make it that far, they are too ñoños...

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

Well, the worse hurricane in DR that I can think of is David in 1979. Reported wind speeds were as high as 200MPH with the storm surge in Santo Domingo at around 14ft, and 36ft waves.

Ok Ive got 14 feet do I hear 15 feet yadda yadda yadda, anyone for 15 feet , come on whos going to give me 15 feet?? do i hear 14.5 feet......14.5 feet ...no one.....14 feet going ONCE..........

bob

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by Chris

Leaving disaster in their wakes ... just like a storm surge (hint .. hint!)

hey chris I TRIED to get it BACK ON TRACK........ 14 feet going TWICE........


bob

[sjh]

i once read the maximum theoretical storm surge was 25 feet. sorry, no reference......

[laurapasinifan]

I ahd always thought the storm SURGE was caused by how low the pressure went.....and the really big storms ave a super low pressure. Thus the water levels rose. That in addition to tidal timing and wind direction causes the water to rise as high as it does. I didnt think it was MOSTLY constant wind force that made the surge as someone suggested.

I do know from hunting L I Sound that when the wind blows hard all day long out of the north( like 25 MPH or more) and the tide change is large., and its a low tide... that all the water in the bay and its channels is gone once in a while....and we cant get back to the boat launch!!!!!! till the tide turns.....crazy stuff......

bob

[Keith R]

Jeez, can't even take a few days of family vacation without the kiddies playing... If any of you are looking for the posts about Hurricane David and the Pope's visit, check the "General Stuff" forum. I started a separate thread there with those posts. From hereon out, on this thread and in this forum, keep it just on Environment, Joseito & Mirador.

Keith R
Environment Forum Moderator

[Keith R]

Note to OP: as you've already been told, there is no single figure for storm surge in any location. The best you can hope for is an average based on history and models, and those figures are hard to come by and not high-confidence. I might note that unless we do more to protect the DR's reefs, the surge will be worse in the future. Think of them as the island's surge buffers...

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Bob, what happened with Hurricane David was that all the factors that you mentioned came together right as the storm made its approach and landfall on DR. The storm was at its lowest pressure (924mb) and highest wind (200MPH), and it hit a few hours before dawn, just as high tide was rolling in. It was the perfect combination for a worse case scenario, and the results showed it.

[sjh]

Storm surge is caused by the localized low pressure of the cyclone. You can calculate the maximum average water level by adding the theoretical 25ft max to the top of the high tide mark assuming the two coincide. Then there would be wave action on top of that.

so if everything all came together in the worst possible way with 15 foot waves, you could be getting hit with sea water at 40ft above the high tide mark.