Hurricane Dean

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Michie

and was assured that Punta Cana would be fine and there was nothing to worry about.

And that is correct info.

[Nooprah]

Great weather right now here in Arroyo Hondo. Lightly cloudy skies and a nice cool breeze. I wish it would stay like this for... well... ever!

[Chris]

A few personalities are keeping the rest of the Caribbean informed on the WX pages here
I see Arjan saying that he is noticing a 1 meter increase in water level there in Juan Dolio.

[DunHill]

Some slight rain, water is really rising, here are the pics:

[Rocky]

Great pix, Dunhill.
Thanks for keeping us abreast.

[Matilda]

A little overcast and some light gusts of wind now in Juan Dolio. My husband was raised inthe hills above Barahona with no communications at all. One night he and his dad noticed no wind at all which had never happened before as there was always wind there. The next day along came David!! It was the same here last night - really wierd. Off now to check on the colmado and the sea in front of it.

Matilda

[Chris]

Thanks Dunhill & Matilda. The weird stillness before the storm where the air is a strange color, it feels as if there is too little of it and nothing moves, is something to be experienced.

At the intense strength that this storm is now it tends to spin around with a little wiggle/wobble in the movement. So, it becomes hard to understand and identify any changes happening. One cannot say if it is a track change, a speed change or an intensity change 'cause you have this 'wobble' thing happening. Mean Dean is also getting into the sphere where we do not know much about the behavior of these storms. We know that Dean is still intensifying and undergoing some eyewall replacements, which explains the slower speed to an extent. The eye of the storm is close to the closest point of approach to Punta Cana now. Its going to be a long day for those in Pedernales and Barahona. Would be great if kFrancisco de Cabral has a connection for a long enough period to keep us informed.

Spare a thought for those intrepid hurricane hunters in their airplanes that are going to be flying into the storm at least twice today to do measurements on the spot in order to keep us informed.

[gerbie53]

Great site for up to minute info ! I have family in Santo Domingo, and it's great to find out what is happening in all parts of the country. Keep up the great work!!
Gerbie53

[TarSeal]

You would not believe the sea spray off the rocks along the Malecon in SD. We did our morning walk along Avenida Mirador Sur and I could see the biggest water "explosions" I've ever seen. Towering geysers of water are coming up off the rocks, dwarfing the houses and buildings in the foreground. I'll try to get out there with my camera later. I can only imagine what it would look like if the waves and surge got really big. That barrio below the park on the western end looks like a major flood zone waiting to happen if things got nasty.

I will say it was a nice walk. It feels great outside and reminds me of a fall storm coming in the Appalachians somewhere- eerily subdued and beautiful.

[Ken]

Puerto Rico reports that the Dean passed far enough to the south so that all they got, starting yesterdayi afternoon, was the heavy rain in the outer bands of the storm. They expect clearing weather this afternoon. The seas are heavy off Puerto Rico with waves of 15' or more, so this is no day for small boats to leave the harbor.

TarSeal, I would think that, like Puerto Rico, you are being pounded by waves of 15' or more.