After making landfall over the southern coast of the Dominican Republic on Wednesday morning, Tropical Storm Franklin continues to bring drenching rains over Hispaniola as it heads north over the mountains of the Dominican Republic.
Franklin formed on Sunday, Aug. 20, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. After drifting in the eastern Caribbean, Franklin finally took an abrupt turn to the north two days later.
On Wednesday, Aug. 23, it made landfall over the Dominican Republic’s southern coast, just south of Barahona.
Since moving over land, Franklin has weakened slightly, but still remains a tropical storm, producing maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 mph. It will continue to head north, moving off the northern coast of Hispaniola later on Wednesday.
It will then curve toward the northeast once it moves back over open ocean in the Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for the Turks and Caicos, in addition to the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.
Franklin will bring tropical storm conditions to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Turks and Caicos from Wednesday into Thursday before it pivots toward the northeast later this week.
Southern portions of the Dominican Republic could receive anywhere between 5 to 10 inches of rain. Some select places could see rainfall totals add up to over a foot.
Life-threatening flash flooding will be possible, as well as mudslides.
Its outer bands will likely clip Puerto Rico, bringing the island heavy rainfall and gusty winds, as well.
While no tropical alerts have been issued for Puerto Rico, widespread rainfall totals between 1 to 2 inches are possible through Thursday, with locally higher amounts reaching up to 4 inches in spots.
In addition to powerful winds and rain, Franklin will also generate large swells and dangerous rip currents, especially along the southern shores of Hispaniola.
Once Franklin moves over Hispaniola, it then will curve toward the northeast later this week before redirecting itself back north again. Once over the open waters of the Atlantic this weekend, Franklin could become a hurricane.
We’re currently monitoring a couple other areas with the potential to develop across the Atlantic basin.
Check here for a look at the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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