Wildfire in Puerto Rico, February 1 to 28, 2005

Name: Wildfire in Puerto Rico, February 1 to 28, 2005
Start: 2005-02-01T00:00
End: 2005-02-28T23:59
Location: Puerto Rico

February 1 to 28, 2005 · NWS SJU · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Many municipalities in Puerto Rico were affected by frequent brushfires during the month due to the drough conditions that affected the region. The mos affected municipalities were Arroyo, Guayama, Patillas, Salinas, Santa Isabel, Coamo, Adjuntas, Guanica, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Peñuelas, Ponce, Villalba, Yauco, Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros, Lajas, Mayaguez, Sabana Grande and San German.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 happened

The episode as NWS SJU wrote it up.

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 Jan 31, 11:30 PM AST, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:30 PM AST, 30 minutes before

PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1130 PM AST MON JAN 31 2005

SATELLITE IMAGERY...THE 00Z SOUNDING AND THE RECENT SUITE OF MODEL
GUIDANCE ALL SUGGEST THAT A DRY AND STABLE AIR MASS HAS SETTLED OVER
THE REGION AND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN THAT WAY THROUGH AT LEAST
THURSDAY. THE LOW JUST OFF THE U.S. EAST COAST IS FORECAST TO STAY
TO THE NORTH OF 30 NORTH THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND ACCORDING TO THE
LATEST GUIDANCE THERE MAY NOT BE MUCH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE APPROACHING
THE REGION ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IN ADDIION THE UPPER LEVELS WILL BE
NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO INITIATING ANY INSTABLILITY. SO ALL IN ALL A
WELCOME DRY SPELL SHOULD PREVAIL ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH AT LEAST
THURSDAY.

THE MARINE FORECAST WAS CONSISTENT WITH LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE IN
THAT THE LONG PERIOD LARGE NORTH NORTHEAST SWELL AFFECTING THE
REGIONAL WATERS IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY...THEN
THE NEXT INCREASE IN SEAS IS EXPECTED LATER ON WEDNESDAY INTO
THURSDAY AS THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL
GENERATE LONG PERIOD SWELL EXPECTED TO ENTER THE REGIONAL WATERS AT
THAT TIME. IF THE SURFACE LOW BECOMES NEARLY STATIONARY AS
FORECAST...THERE WILL BE FAIRLY CONTINUOUS LONG PERIOD LARGE SWELL
ARRIVING INTO THE REGION THROUGH AT LEAST THE WEEKEND.

DIEHL

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION....

.DISCUSSION...MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES PREVAILED OVER OUR LOCAL FORECAST
AREA THIS AFTERNOON. ONLY FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVER THE CENTRAL
INTERIOR SECTION AND MOVED OVER THE SOUTHERN COAST...AFFECTING THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF JUANA DIAZ AND COAMO WITH OUT GENERATING ANY
SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS.

MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE AS A HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE
TO DOMINATE THE CARIBBEAN BASIN. NOT MUCH WEATHER IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE WEEK. ONLY FEW PASSING SHOWERS COULD BE AFFECTING THE
NORTHERN COASTAL SECTIONS OVERNIGHT. A FEW SHOWERS COULD ALSO
DEVELOP OVER THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS WITH OUT ANY SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS.
THIS DRY ENVIRONMENT PATTERN SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST
SATURDAY WHEN A WEAK BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS OUR LOCAL
REGION

&&

.SYNOPSIS...A VERY WEAK COLD FRONT ACROSS THE OFF SHORE CARIBBEAN
WATERS LATE THIS MORNING EXTENDED FROM NEAR 16 NORTH 70 WEST TO THE
NORTH COAST OF GUADELOUPE...AND THEN NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL
ATLANTIC...AND WILL CONTINUE TO SINK SOUTHWARD AND INTO VENEZUELA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.MARINE...NORTHERLY SWELLS AFFECTING THE REGIONAL WATERS WILL
CONTINUE TO DIMINISH THROUGH TUESDAY. ANOTHER WEAK COLD FRONT WILL
MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE LOCAL AREA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER SURGE IN LARGE NORTHERLY SWELLS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU  70  83  70  84 /  10   0  10   0
STT  72  81  72  82 /  10   0  10   0

&&

.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...HSA PRZ001-002-005-008-010-012-013.
     SCA AMZ710>740.
VI...HSA VIZ001.
     SCA AMZ710-720-730.

&&

06

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 6:00 AM AST, 18 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
600 AM AST MON JAN 31 2005

PRZ001>013-AMZ710>750-011100-
600 AM AST MON JAN 31 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PUERTO RICO.

.TODAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

MARINE CONDITIONS...LONG PERIOD NORTH NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS OF 8 TO
10 FEET ARE GENERATING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LOCAL WATERS.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE IN AFFECT FOR ALL THE LOCAL WATERS. LARGE
BREAKING WAVES OF 10 TO 15 FEET WILL ALSO CREATE DANGEROUS MARINE
CONDITIONS WITHIN THE SURF ZONE AND VERY STRONG RIP CURRENTS. AS A
RESULT...A HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND COASTAL FLOOD WATCH ARE IN EFFECT
FOR THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST COASTS OF PUERTO RICO...CULEBRA AND
VIEQUES THROUGH TODAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

MARINE CONDITIONS...LONG PERIOD...NORTH NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL
CONTINUE TO CREATE ROUGH AND DANGEROUS SEA CONDITIONS AT LEAST
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

VIZ001-002-AMZ710>730-011100-
600 AM AST MON JAN 31 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

.TODAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

MARINE CONDITIONS...LONG PERIOD NORTH NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS OF 8 TO 10
FEET ARE GENERATING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LOCAL WATERS. A
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE IN AFFECT FOR ALL THE LOCAL WATERS. LARGE
BREAKING WAVES OF 10 TO 15 FEET WILL ALSO CREATE DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS WITHIN THE SURF ZONE AND VERY STRONG RIP CURRENTS. AS A
RESULT...A HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND COASTAL FLOOD WATCH ARE IN EFFECT
FOR THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST COASTS OF ALL THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
EXCEPT THE ISLAND OF SAINT CROIX.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.MARINE CONDITIONS...LONG PERIOD NORTH NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL
CONTINUE TO CREATE ROUGH AND DANGEROUS SEA CONDITIONS AT LEAST
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB
SITE FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AT (ALL LOWERCASE
LETTERS): HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/SJU.

Event by event

6 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Mayaguez and Vicinity

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Mayaguez and Vicinity forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Wildfire, Southwest

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Southwest forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Wildfire, Ponce and Vicinity

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Ponce and Vicinity forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Wildfire, Southeast

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Southeast forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Wildfire, Central Interior

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Central Interior forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Wildfire, Western Interior

When: February 1, 12:00 AM AST to February 28, 11:59 PM AST
Where: Western Interior forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Puerto Rico, February 2005

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: 5442435, 5442436, 5442437, 5442438, 5442439, 5442440.