Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, November 11, 2003

Name: Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, November 11, 2003
Start: 2003-11-11T09:07
End: 2003-11-11T23:59
Location: Puerto Rico

November 11, 2003 · NWS SJU · 12 events in 4 counties and zones

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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS San Juan, PR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 11, 3:00 AM AST, 6 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 11, 3:00 AM AST, 6 hours 7 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 11, 6:00 AM AST, 3 hours 7 minutes before

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Event by event

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

Debris Flow, Eastern Interior

When: November 11, 9:07 AM AST
Where: Eastern Interior forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A landslide was reported along road 1 from Salinas to Cayey in front of El Cuñao restaurant.

Heavy Rain, Northeast

When: November 11, 12:46 PM AST to 4:46 PM AST
Where: Northeast County, Luquillo
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported flooded at Parcelas Fortuna in Luquillo.

Debris Flow, San Juan and Vicinity

When: November 11, 2:38 PM AST
Where: San Juan and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A landslide was reported along road 862, km 0.4, at Barrio Pajaros Americanos.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 2:40 PM AST to 6:40 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Guayama
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported flooded at Barrio Corazon.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 4:00 PM AST to 8:00 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Salinas
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported flooded at Barrio Playita and another one at 605 Principal street.

Flash Flood, Eastern Interior

When: November 11, 4:02 PM AST to 8:02 PM AST
Where: Eastern Interior County, Las Piedras
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

The river at Barrio Lijas was reported out of its banks, along road 31.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 4:20 PM AST to 8:20 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Guayama
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported flooded at Parcela 658, Mosquito Sector. The expressway number 53, from Salinas to Guayama was also reported flooded after the first toll booth.

Heavy Rain, Northeast

When: November 11, 4:26 PM AST
Where: Northeast County, Humacao
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported to be collapsing at Barrio Candelero Arriba, Sector Bajo La Sombra de un Pino. Road 3, 89.4 km.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 4:37 PM AST to 8:37 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Guayama
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A river was reported out of its banks along road 179, km. 8.0, in front of Shell fuel station.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 5:01 PM AST to 9:01 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Salinas
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A minor was overtaken by a small stream flood waters at Barrio Coqui. Two houses were reported flooded at Barrio San Felipe and Montesona I. A car was reported flooded at Barrio Coqui 13.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 6:03 PM AST to 10:03 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Salinas
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A house was reported flooded at Barrio Playa, Conuco interior.

Flash Flood, Southeast

When: November 11, 9:00 PM AST to 11:59 PM AST
Where: Southeast County, Salinas
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Several houses were reported flooded at Bario Playa, sector Conuco.

What these are

Debris Flow: A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Puerto Rico, November 2003

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5332146, 5332147, 5330587, 5332151, 5332150, 5332149, 5332148, 5330586, 5332152, 5330588, 5330589, 5330590.