Miami [US], August 25: Tropical Storm Franklin began making landfall over the Dominican Republic Wednesday morning, where the storm is expected to bring heavy rains and dangerous floods to
most of the island it shares with Haiti.
In Texas, Tropical Depression Harold was still dumping rain, but overall, the Atlantic Ocean had begun to calm down after a packed few days. Only two disturbances remained alongside the tropical
storm, and Florida was still in the clear.
Here are the forecasts from the US National Hurricane Center 11am (1500 GMT) on Wednesday update: Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was getting soaked Wednesday morning as Tropical Storm Franklin crept ashore near Barahona, on the DR's southern coast. As Franklin crossed the island, it lost power but gained speed, which should make for a quick crossing.
Nearly the entire coast remained under a tropical storm warning, which also extended to Turks and Caicos. Forecasters said the storm could douse the island with 5 to 10 inches [12.7-25.4 centimeters] of rain, or up to 15 inches in some spots. Tropical storm conditions are expected to last on the island through Wednesday evening, before Franklin pulls north.
As of Wednesday mid-morning, it was about 65 miles [104 kilometers] south-southwest of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving north-northwest at 13 mph.
Source: Qatar Tribune