Puerto Rico, 1997

Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Puerto Rico, January 20 to 21, 1997

January 20 to 21, 1997 · NWS SJU · 10 events in 4 counties and zones

5 flash flood, 2 flood, 2 heavy rain, 1 debris flow, as filed by the National Weather Service.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

5 flash flood, 2 flood, 2 heavy rain, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Vega Baja Manati

When
January 20, 12:15 PM AST to 11:30 PM AST
Where
Vega Baja Manati County, Vega Alta

Civil Defense reported that the Cibuco River went out of its banks flooding roads 620 and 647. An automobile and its occupants were swept when the river crested but they were rescued. Roads Trio de 6 in Manati, and 647, 677, and 620 in Vega Alta were impassable.

Flash Flood, Vega Baja Manati

When
January 20, 5:20 PM AST to 11:30 PM AST
Where
Vega Baja Manati County, Barceloneta Manati

Civil Defense reported that river Rio Grande de Manati was out of its banks at the Cachete sector. Also Barrio Cortez in Manati was reported flooded, as well as road 642 and the Montebello bridge.

Flash Flood, Vega Baja Manati

When
January 20, 10:30 PM AST to 11:30 PM AST
Where
Vega Baja Manati County, Manati

Civil Defense indicated that flooding was still occuring across Manati, and that most of the rivers were near bankful.

Flood, Carolina

When
January 21, 12:03 AM AST to 6:00 AM AST
Where
Carolina County, Carolina Loiza

Civil Defense reported small streams out of their banks along road 951 in Carolina and along road 187, Halcon Viejo sector in Loiza.

Flash Flood, Vega Baja Manati

When
January 21, 12:40 AM AST to 6:00 AM AST
Where
Vega Baja Manati County, Vega Alta

River Cibuco was reported out of its banks along roads 620, 647, 675 and 676.

Flood, Aguadilla

When
January 21, 1:50 AM AST to 7:50 AM AST
Where
Aguadilla County, Isabela

Civil Defense reported that a small stream went out of its banks flooding roads 2 and 113 in Isabela.

Heavy Rain, Mayaguez Anasco

When
January 21, 1:50 AM AST to 7:50 AM AST
Where
Mayaguez Anasco County, Anasco

Civil Defense reported heavy rains in Anasco.

Heavy Rain, Aguadilla

When
January 21, 1:50 AM AST
Where
Aguadilla County, Aguadilla Moca San S

Civil Defense reported heavy rains in Aguadilla, Moca and San Sebastian.

Flash Flood, Aguadilla

When
January 21, 1:05 PM AST to 7:05 PM AST
Where
Aguadilla County, Aguadilla

Civil Defense reported flooding continued in Aguadilla.

Debris Flow, Aguadilla

When
January 21, 1:05 PM AST
Where
Aguadilla County, San Sebastian

Lanslides were reported in San Sebastian.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Debris Flow
A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, January 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5599301, 5599302, 5599303, 5599304, 5599305, 5599306, 5599408, 5599409, 5599410, 5599411.