September 21, 2017. Hurrican Maria past North NorthWest of Punta Cana. At this point the Maria was a category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 100 knots (115 mps) The effects on North Coast of DR into the Puerto Plata –Cabarete area was wind gusts of 50 knots with higher winds.
This storm unlike Irma was closer to our North Coast but lower winds. Santiago sustained more flood damage than the previous hurricane Irma in contrast. We are extremely fortunate in both cases. There is very little damage on the north coast and at the site.
Interesting fact: the US Navy has a weather station on the north coast of DR for 72 years. There is unique meteorlogical element to hurricanes on the north coast of DR. Due to the mountains between the north and south running west to east, these create a buffer for storms that have a tendancy to push storms off the coast. The last two storms are evidence of this unique occurance as you look at the path for both storms.