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List of Puerto Rico hurricanes

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami. The territory has experienced the effects of Atlantic hurricanes, or storms that were once tropical or subtropical cyclones.

List of storms

Pre-Columbian hurricanes

1500s

August 12–14, 1508 – An unnamed tropical cyclone affected southern Hispaniola and may have affected southern Puerto Rico.
August 16, 1508 – Hurricane San Roque is considered to be the first recorded recorded hurricane to affect Puerto Rico. Reported by Juan Ponce de León, his caravel left Santo Domingo, but another storm after the preceding storm beached it on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico at Guayanilla. It mainly affected the southwest coast of the island.
July 1514 – An unknown tropical cyclone affected Puerto Rico and was reported months afterwards.
October 4–5, 1526 – Hurricane San Francisco made landfall and progressed westward or west-northwestward and therefore also might have affected the northern group of the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands. A violent hurricane moved slowly over northern Puerto Rico on 4 and 5 October. The storm started at night, lasted 24 hours, and ruined the major part of the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico, including the church, and caused much damage to haciendas, agriculture, and wide spread flooding. One source describes the storm in both 1526 and 1527.
July 26–28, 1530 – Hurricane Santa Ana made landfall on Puerto Rico and was the first of three tropical cyclones to affect the island that year. The island only had population of 3,100 at the time.
August 22, 1530 – Hurricane San Hipólito affected Puerto Rico as a weak hurricane or tropical storm bringing heavy rain.
August 31, 1530 – Hurricane San Ramon affected Puerto Rico as a violent hurricane that struck Puerto Rico nine days later after the San Hipólito hurricane. Floods isolated communities and drowned an uncounted number of persons to death. The hurricane greatly damaged livestock and agriculture and so distressed the Spanish colonists that they considered abandoning Puerto Rico altogether. The barrage of hurricanes during 1530 brought a condition of great suffering and poverty on Puerto Rico, which persisted for several years.
July or August, 1537 – A tropical cyclone affected Puerto Rico causing the destruction of river banks and plantations, as well as growing many cattle and slaves. The storm caused Puerto Ricans in great hardship and increased the desire of its citizens to migrate. This event may continue as the succeeding event.
September 7, 1545 – Unnamed hurricane heavily affected Hispaniola and is presumed to have affected Puerto Rico.
August 24-24, 1568 – Hurricane San Bartolomé caused widespread damage in San Juan, Puerto Rico and in Santo Domingo. First hurricane to be named with "Saint of the Day" affecting Puerto Rico (previous ones back to 1508 were labeled by historians).
September 12, 1575 – San Mateo hurricane was a severe hurricane that affected Puerto Rico as a tropical storm struck the island on double of Saint Matthew. Last recorded tropical storm to impact Puerto Rico during sixteenth century.

1600s

September 12, 1615 – Hurricane San Leoncio made landfall and was the first hurricane to affect the island in the seventeenth century. Caused extensive damage to Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, to the agriculture, and to sugar crops.
September 15, 1626 – San Nicomedes hurricane affected Puerto Rico as a tropical storm and sank three ships in the bay of San Juan.Millás 1968 Cayetano Coll y Toste wrote of this storm, which occurred the year after Battle of San Juan (1625), which ruined large portions of the city. The storm destroyed plantations and limited the supply of cassava bread.
September 1642 – Unnamed hurricane as day of storm is unknown. Based on reports, was a strong and large size hurricane.
August 1657 – Unnamed hurricane as day of storm is unknown. Caused significant damage to agriculture and crops on the island.

1700s

September 6, 1713 – Hurricane San Zacarias caused storm surge in the southern coast and much damage.
October 3, 1713 – Tropical Storm San Cándido came close to Puerto Rico and affected all the Dominican Republic. Caused storm surge to the south coast.
September 7, 1718 – Tropical Storm Santa Regina caused damage in San Juan.
August 30, 1730 – Tropical Storm Santa Rosa
August 30, 1738 – Hurricane Santa Rosa was a hurricane coming exactly eight years after the 1730 tropical storm. It crossed over the entire island, then passed on to the Dominican Republic. San Juan was very affected.
September 12, 1738 – Hurricane San Leoncio
August 3, 1740 – Hurricane San Esteban
September 11–12, 1740 – Hurricane San Vicente
October 28, 1742 – Hurricane San Judas Tadeo
August 18, 1751 – Tropical Storm San Agapito
September 19, 1766 – Hurricane San Genaro
October 7–8, 1766 – Hurricane San Marcos
August 7, 1767 – Hurricane San Cayetano
August 28–29, 1772 – Hurricane San Agustín
August 31, 1772 – Hurricane San Ramón
August 1, 1775 – Tropical Storm San Pedro
June 13, 1780 – Hurricane San Antonio "caused deaths and losses" on Puerto Rico, after having also struck St. Lucia, where it killed around 4,000 to 5,000 people. It is also known as the St. Lucia Hurricane. It later went on to the Dominican Republic.
October 14, 1780 - "Great Hurricane," also known as the San Calixto hurricane, was a tropical cyclone that killed an estimated 20,000-22,000 people and had winds of 200 mph. The hurricane passed close to Puerto Rico, steadily paralleling the southern coastline of the island. It subsequently turned to the northwest, going through the Mona Passage before making landfall near the present-day Dominican Republic province of Samaná.
September 25, 1785 – Tropical Storm San Lupo
August 16, 1788 – Hurricane San Roque

1800s

September 4, 1804 – Hurricane Santa Rosalía
September 11, 1806 – Hurricane San Vicente
August 17–19, 1807 – Hurricane San Jacinto
August 21, 1813 – Tropical Storm Santa Juana
July 23, 1813 – Tropical Storm San Liborio
July 23, 1814 – Tropical Storm San Liborio
September 18–20, 1816 – Hurricane San José de Cupertino
September 22, 1818 – Tropical Storm San Mauricio
September 21–22, 1819 – Hurricane San Mateo
September 9–10, 1824 – Hurricane San Pedro
July 26–27, 1825 – Hurricane Santa Ana
August 17, 1827 – Tropical Storm San Jacinto
August 13, 1835 – Hurricane San Hipólito
August 2–3, 1837 – Hurricane Nuestra Señora de los Angeles
August 18, 1851 – Hurricane San Agapito
September 5, 1852 – Hurricane San Lorenzo
October 29, 1867 – Hurricane San Narciso
August 21, 1871 – Hurricane Santa Juana
September 13, 1876 – Hurricane San Felipe I
November 28, 1878 – Tropical Storm San Rufo
September 1–2, 1888 – Hurricane San Gil
September 3–4, 1889 – Hurricane San Martín
August 19–20, 1891 – Hurricane San Magín
August 16–17, 1893 – Hurricane San Roque
August 31-September 1, 1896 – Hurricane San Ramón
August 8, 1899 – Hurricane San Ciriaco

1900s

July 7, 1901 – Tropical Storm San Cirilo
September 11–12, 1901 – Tropical Storm San Vicente
September 6–7, 1910 – Hurricane San Zacarias
August 11, 1915 – Hurricane San Triburcio
August 22, 1916 – Hurricane San Hipólito
September 9–10, 1921 – Hurricane San Pedro
July 23, 1926 – Hurricane San Liborio

September 13, 1928 – Okeechobee hurricane, also known as the San Felipe II hurricane, was a major hurricane that made landfall near Guayama as a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest on record to strike the island. On September 13, the 15 mi (24 km) eye crossed Puerto Rico in eight hours from the southeast to the northwest, moving ashore near Guayama and exiting between Aguadilla and Isabela. A ship near the southern coast reported a pressure of 931 mbar (27.5 inHg), and the cup anemometer at San Juan reported sustained winds of 160 mph (257 km/h) before failing. As the wind station was 30 mi (48 km) north of the storm's center, winds near the landfall point were unofficially estimated as high as 200 mph (320 km/h). On this basis, the hurricane is believed to have made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale, although there was uncertainty in the peak intensity, due to the large size and slow movement of the storm. After emerging from Puerto Rico, the hurricane had weakened to winds of about 140 mph (230 km/h), based on a pressure reading of 941 mbar (27.8 inHg) at Isabela.
September 10–11, 1931 – San Nicolás hurricane
September 26–27, 1932 – San Ciprian hurricane
October 14, 1943 – Hurricane San Calixto
September 21, 1949 – Hurricane San Mateo
August 12, 1956 – Hurricane Betsy
September 5–6, 1960 – Hurricane Donna
October 2–3, 1961 – Tropical Storm Frances
September 26, 1963 – Hurricane Edith
August 23, 1964 – Hurricane Cleo
August 26, 1966 – Hurricane Faith
September 28, 1966 – Hurricane Inez
September 9, 1967 – Hurricane Beulah
1970 – Caribbean–Azores hurricane struck Puerto Rico as a tropical depression, it was the wettest tropical cyclone on record to affect Puerto Rico. The depression left 10,000 people homeless across Puerto Rico, with 3,000 housed in emergency shelters in San Juan. At least 600 houses were destroyed and another 1,000 damaged. Damage was particularly severe in Barceloneta, Aibonito, and Coamo. Across the island, the depression affected at least 40 state roads, with fifteen blocked by landslides, and eleven bridges destroyed. Flooding forced the closure of Puerto Rico Highway 2 between Manatí and Barceloneta. The depression left more than $40 million (1970 USD$, 301 million 2024 USD) in crop damage, primarily to sugarcane and coffee, as reported by William R. Poage, the chair of the House Agricultural Committee. Throughout Puerto Rico, the depression caused damage estimated at $65 million (1970 USD$, 489 million 2024 USD), as well as at least 18 confirmed fatalities. A report six months after the depression indicated there were 34 people missing, although their status is unknown.
September 15–16, 1975 – Tropical Storm Eloise
July 17–18, 1979 – Tropical Storm Claudette
August 30, 1979 – Hurricane David
September 4, 1979 – Tropical Storm Frederick
September 8, 1981 – Tropical Storm Gert
1984, November 7, 1984 – Tropical Storm Klaus
September 18, 1989 – Hurricane Hugo
October 8, 1990 – Hurricane Klaus
August 15, 1993 – Tropical Storm Cindy
September 11, 1994 – Tropical Storm Debby
September 5–6, 1995 – Hurricane Luis
September 15–16, 1995 – Hurricane Marilyn
October 25, 1995 – Tropical Storm Sebastien
July 8, 1996 – Hurricane Bertha
September 9–10, 1996 – Hurricane Hortense
October 16, 1997 – Tropical Storm Grace
September 21–22, 1998 – Hurricane Georges
October 21, 1999 – Tropical Storm Jose
November 17, 1999 – Hurricane Lenny

2000s

August 22, 2000 – Hurricane Debby
September 16–17, 2000 – Tropical Storm Helene
August 22, 2001 – Tropical Storm Dean
August 21–22, 2003 – Tropical Depression Nine
October 10, 2003 – Tropical Storm Mindy
December 4–7, 2003 – Tropical Storm Odette made landfall in Hispaniola but still brought somewhat heavy rain to Puerto Rico, peaking at 8.73 in (222 mm) in Jájome Alto. A total of $20,000 (2003 USD) in damage was reported from three bridge collapses, and a landslide occurred in Humacao.

September 15, 2004 – Hurricane Jeanne made landfall near Maunabo, Puerto Rico as a strong tropical storm, midday on September 15 with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and heavy rain. A total of 19.22 in (488 mm) of rain fell in Aibonito, with 15 in (380 mm) of that coming in a 24-hour period; the 24-hour total corresponds to a greater than 100-year rain event. Another greater than 100-year rain event occurred on the island of Vieques, with 14.75 in (375 mm) falling in a 24-hour timeframe. About 50% of people in the territory were without running water by three days after the storm, and 70% were without electricity. A total of eight people (four directly killed by the storm and four indirectly) were reported dead in Puerto Rico as a result of Jeanne, and damages from the storm were estimated at $169.5 million (2004 USD).
August 1–4, 2006 – Tropical Storm Chris brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico, which peaked at 3.30 in (84 mm) in Aceitunas. The Fajardo River overflowed its banks, causing a highway to close in the northeast coast of the territory.
August 25–27, 2006 – Hurricane Ernesto produced rain across two days in Puerto Rico, peaking at 4.69 in (119 mm) in Sabana Grande.
August 18, 2007 – Hurricane Dean brought rain and heavy surf to Puerto Rico, closing down several roads while passing to the south of the territory. $15,000 in damage was estimated as a result of the storm.
December 10–12, 2007 – Tropical Storm Olga as a subtropical storm made landfall in north-central Puerto Rico, producing light to moderate rains in the territory. The highest total recorded was 11.13 in (283 mm) of rain near Ponce. A river gage sensor reported the Río Grande de Arecibo at several feet above flood stage. Due to the storm, 79,000 people lost power, and 144,000 people lost access to water; as well, a landslide buried an SUV and killed one person.
August 31–September 4, 2008 – Despite at its closest approach being nearly 350 mi (560 km) away, Hurricane Hanna produced torrential rainfall in Puerto Rico, with 10–12 in (250–300 mm) of rain falling in 24 hours in parts of the territory. A maximum total of 16.19 in (411 mm) of rain from the entire duration of the storm was recorded outside Adjuntas. Many rivers flooded their banks and many landslides were reported as a result of Hanna.

September 20–24, 2008 – The precursor low to Hurricane Kyle produced record-breaking rainfall in parts of Puerto Rico, reaching totals as high as 30.47 in (774 mm) in Patillas. Patillas also recorded a 500-year flood event, receiving 22.03 in (560 mm) of rain in 24 hours from 8 a.m. on September 21 to 8 a.m. on September 22. The Rio Gurabo and other rivers rose over 25 ft (7.6 m) in 12 hours. Flash floods and mudslides killed three people, while three others died indirectly due to heart attacks. Damages in Puerto Rico were recorded at $48 million (2008 USD), with $25 million of that being structural and $23 million being agricultural.
October 13–16, 2008 – Hurricane Omar brought moderate to heavy rainfall along with gusty winds that caused flash flooding, though no damage was reported. One person died after suffering a heart attack while installing storm shutters on their house.
August 17–18, 2009 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Ana produced minor rainfall in Puerto Rico, with a maximum total of 2.76 in (70 mm) of rain in Río Grande. Wind gusts as high as 42 mph (68 km/h) were recorded in the territory. Three schools were evacuated and roughly 6,000 people lost power as a result of the storm.
September 3–5, 2009 – Tropical Depression Erika and its remnants brought heavy rains to parts of Puerto Rico, causing flooding. A maximum total of 7.92 in (201 mm) of rain fell in Naguabo, while many other parts of the territory saw at least 4 in (100 mm) of rain. Three rivers overflowed their banks, with the Loíza River reaching 29.27 ft (8.92 m), 7.27 ft (2.22 m) above flood stage. A total of $35 thousand (2009 USD) in damage was estimated as a result of the storm.

2010s

July 18, 2010 – The precursor to Tropical Storm Bonnie caused flooding across Puerto Rico, leading to one person drowning in a swollen river.
August 29–September 4, 2010 – Hurricane Earl passed north of Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane, producing heavy rains in parts of the island. A maximum total of 5.19 in (132 mm) of rain fell near Naguabo. Nearly 187,000 people were left without power due to Earl, and 60,000 more were left without water in the territory.
September 6–7, 2010 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Gaston produced minor rainfall in Puerto Rico, with a peak of 3.03 in (77 mm) in Naguabo.
September 17, 2010 – One person drowned as a result of rough surf produced by Hurricane Igor.
October 2–8, 2010 – The precursor to Hurricane Otto brought rain to Puerto Rico across a six-day period, peaking at 17.86 in (454 mm) in Ponce. The municipality of Utuado was isolated outside of the PR-10 highway as a result of the storm. More than 40 roads were closed as a result of the storm, and 295 roads were affected in some way from the storm. In total, $6.5 million (2010 USD) was estimated in damage to the road system. An additional $1.5 million was estimated to agriculture in Ponce. At least 134 people had to take refuge from the storm, while an estimated 45,000 people lost access to drinking water. The government of Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency for the entire island during the storm.
August 1–4, 2011 – Tropical Storm Emily brought tropical storm conditions to many parts of the territory. A total of 8.22 in (209 mm) of rain was recorded in Caguas, and across the territory three rivers overflowed, leading to the PR-31 highway being impassable for a few hours. $5 million (2011 USD) in damage was estimated in Puerto Rico.

August 21–24, 2011 – Hurricane Irene made landfall in Puerto Rico as a tropical storm, before strengthening to a hurricane over the main island. A maximum of 22.04 in (560 mm) of rain was recorded in Gurabo, while large swaths of the eastern side of the main island received at least 7 in (180 mm) of rain. Over 1 million people lost power as a result of Irene, while 121,000 people lost access to water. At least 1,446 people had to either be placed in shelter or be evacuated due to the storm. One person died after their car was swept away, and a preliminary estimate indicated $500 million (2011 USD) of damage in Puerto Rico. A state of emergency for the territory was declared by president Barack Obama.
September 11–14, 2011 – Tropical Storm Maria caused $1.3 million (2011 USD) in damage while passing northeast of Puerto Rico. In Yabucoa, flooding damaged about 150 homes; Yabucoa was also the location of the highest rainfall total recorded during the storm, at 11.04 in (280 mm). About a month after the storm, president Barack Obama announced that federal disaster aid would be available to the territory.
August 4, 2012 – Tropical Storm Ernesto dropped locally heavy rain in areas, despite passing well south of the territory. 8.39 in (213 mm) of rain was recorded in Jayuya, the most recorded in connection to the storm. Mudslides and flooded roads stranded at least 3 cars.
August 23–24, 2012 – Tropical Storm Isaac passed south of Puerto Rico, causing about $3,000 (2012 USD) in damage. A 75-year-old woman fell from a second-floor balcony and died while preparing for the storm.
July 9–10, 2013 – Tropical Storm Chantal caused wind gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) in Puerto Rico. Multiple power lines fell down across the territory and a landslide closed 2 lanes of PR-948.
September 4–5, 2013 – Tropical Depression Gabrielle produced 6 to 8 inches (150 to 200 mm) of rain in Puerto Rico.
August 2–3, 2014 – While passing to the southwest of Puerto Rico, Tropical Storm Bertha dropped a general 3–5 inches (76–127 mm) of rain across the territory, with up to 11.11 in (282 mm) of rain recorded in Adjuntas. The rain helped with drought conditions in parts of the territory. Prolific lightning from Bertha caused the majority of the 29,000 power outages recorded in the wake of the storm.
August 22–24, 2014 – The wave that would later become Hurricane Cristobal passed over Puerto Rico, producing torrential rains, with a peak of 13.21 in (336 mm) of rain recorded near Tibes. Several other areas in Puerto Rico, mostly near Ponce, received at least 10 in (250 mm) of rain. Multiple landslides happened as a result of the rains, 17,000 people lost power, and 7,000 people lost access to clean drinking water. The monetary damage produced by the storm is unknown.
October 14–15, 2014 – Hurricane Gonzalo caused power outages in Puerto Rico, but no major damage. Twenty people were forced to stay in an emergency shelter.
August 25, 2015 – The remnants of Hurricane Danny brought minor rainfall to Puerto Rico. The rains helped alleviate a drought in the territory, raising dam levels that were critically low.
August 27–28, 2015 – Tropical Storm Erika travelled just south of Puerto Rico, bringing needed rain to the drought-stricken territory, which peaked at 4.45 in (113 mm) in Adjuntas. Approximately 250,000 people were left without electricity, 36 homes sustained roof damage, and $17.37 million (2015 USD) in damage was caused to agriculture in the territory.

September 5–7, 2017 – Hurricane Irma passed north of Puerto Rico as a Category 5 hurricane, producing tropical storm force winds across much of the main island. A peak wind gust of 111 mph (179 km/h) was recorded on the island of Culebra. The only telecommunications tower on Culebra was damaged, cutting off communications completely for several hours. At least 30 houses were destroyed there, and an additional 30 were damaged. A peak rainfall amount was recorded in Bayamón of 13.04 in (331 mm). Across the territory, at least 362,000 people lost access to water services, and approximately 1.1 million of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's 1.5 million customers lost power. In all, $1 billion (2017 USD) in damage was brought by the storm, and the NHC attributed three fatalities to Irma in Puerto Rico, though four deaths were related to the storm
September 19–21, 2017 – Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico as a high end Category 4 hurricane, causing catastrophic damage to the territory. Rain totals as high as 37.9 in (960 mm) were reported, with that peak value coming in Caguas. High storm surge and heavy rain caused significant flooding, with water levels being as deep as 15 ft (4.6 m). The entire power grid on the island was destroyed by the storm, and 95% of cell networks on the island were down. Five days after the hurricane, 95% of the island still had no power, 95% of the island had no cell service and 44% had no tap water. By three months after the hurricane, 45% of power customers had yet to get power back, and 14% still had no tap water, though 90% of the island did have cell service by this point. Maria ultimately caused an estimated 2,975 deaths on the island, becoming the deadliest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico since the 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane. Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rosselló estimated damages from the storm at $90 billion (2017 USD).
July 9–10, 2018 – The remnants of Hurricane Beryl passed south of Puerto Rico, bringing heavy rain, especially to the east side of the main island; some areas on the east side of the island received over 8 inches of rain. More than 47,000 people lost power as a result of the storm, but no deaths or injuries were reported.
August 28–29, 2019 – Hurricane Dorian passed east of Puerto Rico, causing gusty winds and heavy rain. One person died while preparing for the storm.
September 23–25, 2019 – Tropical Storm Karen closely paralleled the east coast of Puerto Rico, causing flooding and displacing 217 people. No major damage occurred as a result of the storm.

2020s

July 29–30, 2020 – Tropical Storm Isaias passed south of Puerto Rico, bringing flooding to the territory. One person died as a result, and US$59.5 million in damage is estimated from the storm.
August 22–23, 2020 – Tropical Storm Laura passed just south of Puerto Rico, causing 200,000 people to lose power and 14,000 people to lose access to running water. Up to 5.82 inches (148 mm) of rain fell in central and southeast Puerto Rico.
September 18, 2020 – Hurricane Teddy caused swells on the Puerto Rico coast, killing two people.
September 17–19, 2022 – Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Lajas, Puerto Rico as a slow-moving Category 1 hurricane that brought heavy rains over the whole island.
November 4–6, 2022 – Hurricane Nicole reached the island as a tropical disturbance 4–8 inches (100–200 mm) torrential rainfall occurred no fatalities.

References

Bibliography

Abbad y Lasierra, Fray Íñigo (1866), de Acosta y Calbo, José Julián (ed.), Historia geográfica, civil y natural de la Isla de San Juan Bautista de Puerto-Rico (in Spanish) (nueva ed.), Puerto Rico: Imprenta y Libreria de Acosta, p. 433, OCLC 51898961
Alexander, William H. (1902), Hurricanes: especially those of Porto Rico and St. Kitts., Bulletin, United States Department of Agriculture, Weather Bureau, p. 79
Hughes, Patrick (1987), "Hurricanes haunt our history", Weatherwise, 40 (3): 134–140, Bibcode:1987Weawi..40c.134H, doi:10.1080/00431672.1987.9933354
Millás, José Carlos (1968), Pardue, Leonard (ed.), Hurricanes of the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, 1492–1800, Miami: Academy of the Arts and Sciences of the Americas, OCLC 339427
Pérez, Orlando, ed. (1971), Notes on the tropical cyclones of Puerto Rico, 1508–1970
Salivia, Luis Alfredo (1972), Historia de los temporales de Puerto Rico y las Antillas, 1492 a 1970 (in Spanish) (2a. rev. y aum. ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico: Editorial Edil, p. 385, OCLC 433147145

Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: List of Puerto Rico hurricanes by Wikipedia (Historical)

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