Hurricane Season in the Dominican Republic: Month by Month
Quick answer: the Dominican Republic’s hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and August and September are the busiest months. In the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo in 22 of 50 seasons; a hurricane came within 50 miles of one of them in 7 of 50 seasons. Punta Cana’s busiest week is Sep 17–23.
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Punta Cana for September 10–16: change the dates to yours, or pick Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo. Below, the Dominican Republic’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Place by place
| Place | Storm within 100 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi | Busiest week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Cana | 17 of 50 seasons | 4 of 50 seasons | Sep 17–23 (4) |
| Puerto Plata | 19 of 50 seasons | 3 of 50 seasons | Sep 17–23 (5) |
| Santo Domingo | 17 of 50 seasons | 2 of 50 seasons | Sep 17–23 (4) |
Hurricane season in the Dominican Republic, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of each place at some point in that month.
| Month | Punta Cana | Puerto Plata | Santo Domingo | Any of them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| August | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| September | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
| October | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| November | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
December is not always calm: Olga (2007) passed as a tropical storm within 50 miles of Punta Cana on December 11, and Odette (2003) came within 50 miles of Puerto Plata on December 7.
The busiest week
Punta Cana: Sep 17–23, when a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of 50 seasons. Puerto Plata: Sep 17–23, when a storm came within 100 miles in 5 of 50 seasons. Santo Domingo: Sep 17–23, when a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of 50 seasons. The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (29)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest | Near |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin (2023) | Aug 23–24 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Fiona (2022) | Sep 18–20 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Fred (2021) | Aug 11 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Grace (2021) | Aug 16 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Santo Domingo |
| Isaias (2020) | Jul 30–31 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Laura (2020) | Aug 22–23 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Irma (2017) | Sep 7 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Punta Cana and Puerto Plata |
| Maria (2017) | Sep 20–22 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Punta Cana and Puerto Plata |
| Erika (2015) | Aug 28 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Punta Cana |
| Bertha (2014) | Aug 2–3 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Irene (2011) | Aug 22–23 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana and Puerto Plata |
| Fay (2008) | Aug 15–16 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Hanna (2008) | Sep 3 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Puerto Plata |
| Ike (2008) | Sep 7 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Puerto Plata |
| Olga (2007) | Dec 11–12 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Alpha (2005) | Oct 22–23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Santo Domingo |
| Jeanne (2004) | Sep 15–18 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Mindy (2003) | Oct 10–11 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Odette (2003) | Dec 7 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Debby (2000) | Aug 23 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Georges (1998) | Sep 22–23 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Grace (1997) | Oct 14–15 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Puerto Plata |
| Hortense (1996) | Sep 10–11 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Cindy (1993) | Aug 16 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Punta Cana and Santo Domingo |
| Emily (1987) | Sep 22–23 | a hurricane within 100 miles | Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Isabel (1985) | Oct 7 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Gert (1981) | Sep 9 | a tropical storm within 100 miles | Punta Cana and Puerto Plata |
| David (1979) | Aug 31 – Sep 1 | a hurricane within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
| Frederic (1979) | Sep 4–6 | a tropical storm within 50 miles | Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo |
When the season runs
the Dominican Republic is in the Atlantic basin, whose hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
- Things to do in the Dominican Republic
- What the Dominican Republic is famous for
- Things to do in Santo Domingo
- Things to do in Puerto Plata
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Punta Cana
- Punta Cana’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in the Dominican Republic?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo did so between July 30 and December 12, most often in August.
Does the Dominican Republic get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo in 22, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 7: Fiona (2022), Isaias (2020), Irene (2011), Jeanne (2004) and 3 more.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in the Dominican Republic?
August: a storm came within 100 miles in 10 of the 50 seasons, then September with 9.
What is the safest time to visit the Dominican Republic in hurricane season?
Within the season, June and November: no storm came within 100 miles in any of the 50 seasons. Outside June 1 to November 30, storms were rarer still.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.