The Dominican Republic lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, at 18.30N Latitude and 69.59W Longitude (Santo Domingo).  Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the north coast and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the DR enjoys a year round tropical maritime climate.
 
The terrain in the Dominican Republic varies greatly, from the highest mountain in the Caribbean at over 10,000 feet to the lowest elevation at Lago Enriquillo at 140 feet below sea level.  With three mountain ranges dissecting the island, deserts, tropical rainforests, coastal swamps, and spectacular beaches, there are varying temperatures that divide the island into two seasons: summer and winter.

The winter season (November to April) brings cooler temperatures and more rainfall, with the summer months of May through October being hotter and dryer.  Rainstorms are regular in any tropical climate and usually don't last long so it doesn't deter vacationers, and can bring a welcome coolness during a hot sunny day.  Average high temperatures during the winter months are 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius), with lows averaging 20 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) in the evenings. The summer temperatures can be much higher especially in the coastal beach areas, and 100F is not unusual during the day, "cooling" down to around 85-90F in the evenings. Generally January and February are the coolest months, with August and September being the hottest.  The temperature gauges can of course soar in the desert regions and have been recorded at up to 43 celsius (110F).   Some of the mountainous regions have recorded temperatures as low as 0 degrees Celsius (32F) and the occasional frost can be experienced at the summit of Pico Duarte.

We cannot talk about climate without mentioning hurricanes!  As with all Caribbean islands, the Dominican Republic is geographically situated in an area that can experience hurricanes.  The hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th in this area of the Atlantic and Caribbean (click here to read more on Dominican Republic Hurricanes).  Historically the south coast of the island has experienced more hurricane activity over the years than the north coast.  Hurricane George (Category 3) in September 1998 was the last major storm to do devastation to the south and east of the island, as did Hurricane David (Category 5) in August 1979.  Hurricane Jeanne (Category 1) in September 2004, did some minor damage to the north coast but in the history of the "cane", the north of the island maintains a relatively hurricane free climate.

In summary, the Dominican Republic enjoys typically warm Caribbean temperatures year round, and is a fascinating and incredibly beautiful island.  The geological diversity adds to its colourful flavour and gives a myriad of options to cater to any taste of travellers from all over the world, who chose the Dominican Republic as their destination.