Generic Hurricane

Tropical Storm Emily is heading for a collision course with the Dominican Republic and Haiti, according to the latest report from the Miami, US-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

According to the NHC, which has been tracking the weather system since its development in late July, Emily could bring a total rain accumulation of 4 to 6 inches to the Dominican Republic, with a maximum amount of 10 inches possible.

With the country on storm alert, there remains a potential threat to fresh produce production, with possibility of flash floods and mudslides, according to the NHC.

In September 2008, Hurricane Ike caused over €10m worth of damage to crops in the country, including bananas, avocados, yucca and red beans, with thousands of hectares of cultivated land lost due to flooding.