During the three day period of September 21-23, 2008, parts of Puerto Rico suffered from one of the most catastrophic flooding events of the season to date. The flooding affected many municipalities island wide.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS SJU wrote it up.
During the three day period of September 21-23, 2008, parts of Puerto Rico suffered from one of the most catastrophic flooding events of the season to date. The flooding affected many municipalities island wide. The torrential rainfall resulted in severe flooding to rivers, streams, and roads, causing sinkholes, land/mudslides, and structural collapses mainly across the southern half of the island. Specifically, the heaviest rainfall, and most severe effects, occurred across the municipalities of Cabo Rojo, Guayama, Humacao, Patillas, Ponce, and Yabucoa, where in some locations, totals approaching 30 inches of rainfall fell in a three-day period, ending at 8 am Tuesday, September 23, 2008.The heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding were a direct result of a large tropical disturbance that moved slowly west across the island. On occasion, tropical disturbances may develop into tropical depressions and, upon further intensification, get named by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as a tropical storm and/or hurricane. While the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan and the NHC closely monitored the system for possible organization into a named storm, multiple reconnaissance flights flown through the disturbance revealed no closed, low-level, surface circulation, which was needed to satisfy the definition of a tropical depression. It was not until 5 pm Thursday, September 25, 2008 when the system, located about 380 miles north northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was named Tropical Storm Kyle. The strongest effects of the tropical disturbance were first felt in Puerto Rico on Sunday, September 21, 2008. The most intense rainfall occurred in the 24-hour period starting at 8 am Sunday, September 21, 2008 through 8 am Monday, September 22, 2008, with the highest rainfall rates occurring during the overnight hours from sunset on Sunday to sunrise on Monday. The largest rainfall amounts for the 24-hour period ending 8 am Monday, September 22, 2008 were 22.03 inches in Patillas, 20.00 inches in Guayama, 16.00 inches in Cabo Rojo, 14.83 inches in Yabucoa, and 10.81 inches in Ponce. For the combined three-day period, some of these numbers increase further with 29.83 inches in Patillas, 21.86 inches in Yabucoa, 20.52 inches in Ponce, and 17.82 inches in Cabo Rojo. Lesser, but just as significant, amounts, ranging from 5-15 inches of rain, fell across much of the island. The torrential rainfall seen across the island was immediately seen across the extensive river network in Puerto Rico. Some rivers, including the Rio Gurabo, saw water levels rise in excess of 25 feet in less than 12 hours. Parts of the island that were spared the worst of the rain include the northern and northwestern coast, were only moderate rain showers were experienced. The total rainfall amounts recorded from this event are unique in that the 29.83 inches seen in Patillas exceeds the weekly total rainfall of 27.13 inches measured in Juana Diaz during the October 1985 flood event. The 24-hour rainfall totals ending at 8 am Monday, September 22, 2008, which encompassed parts of the southeastern section of the island, including the municipalities of Patillas and Guayama, exceeded 200-year 24-hour rainfall totals. Specifically for Patillas, the recorded rainfall amount approaches the 500-year 24-hour rainfall totals. Along the southwestern section of the island, Cabo Rojo’s 24 hour rainfall also exceeded the 100-year return period. Across the southern municipalities of Puerto Rico, Ponce and Yauco’s 24-hour rainfall rates exceeded the 10-year 24-hour rainfall totals, Juana Diaz exceeded the 25-year rainfall totals, and Yabucoa, along the southeast coast, exceeded the 25-year rainfall totals. The resultant flooding had considerable effects on the local population. Six fatalities were reported, three direct deaths due to drowning, and 3 indirect heart attack deaths related to stress induced flooding. An estimated 630 people in the affected areas were evacuated to shelters. In addition to structural damage caused by the flood waters, agricultural damage was sustained by coffee, plantains, and other minor crops, damage was preliminarily estimated at 23 million. In response to the significant flooding, federal authorities issued a disaster declaration for portions of the island.
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 Sep 21, 12:17 PM AST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1217 PM AST SUN SEP 21 2008
.UPDATE...DISTURBED WEATHER AFFECTING THE NE CARIB REGION THE PAST
24 HOURS OR SO AND ASSOCIATED WITH A SW TO NE AREA OF ELONGATED
LOW PRESSURE HAS BEGUN TO SHOW SIGNS OF BECOMING MORE CONCENTRATED
AND OVAL IN SHAPE...WITH STLT IMAGERY SUGGESTING VIGOROUS MID
LEVEL ROTATION IN A CLUSTER OF TSTORMS INVOF 17N 66.3W. THIS
FEATURE HAS DRIFTED SSW DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...BUT WITH
SAN JUAN DOPPLER RADAR NOW SUGGESTING A MORE NE MOTION AND
ELONGATION OF THE RAINBANDS THAT WERE DEVELOPING AROUND THIS
APPARENT LOW. TUTT LOW TO THE NNW OF THIS SYSTEM IS LIFTING SLOWLY
NW AND ALLOWING THE SHEAR TO RELAX...AND BANDING ON THE E SIDE OF
THIS LOW PRESSURE AREA IS LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED. THUS
THIS SYSTEM MAY BE ON ITS WAY TO BETTER ORGANIZATION AND THE
FORMATION OF A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. BASED ON
STLT SIGNALS AND DOPPLER WINDS I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE
THAT THE HURRICANE RECON FLIGHT FINDS 35 KNOT WINDS AT 5-8K FT
BETWEEN SE PUERTO RICO AND ST CROIX. REGARDLESS OF WIND
STRENGTH...THIS SCENARIO IS LIKELY TO BE A HEAVY RAIN MAKER FOR THE
LOCAL AREA. NUMEROUS FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED
FOR THE E AND SE SECTIONS OF PR AND FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. MODEL
GUIDANCE NOW COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...AND A VERY SLOW
MOVEMENT N FOR THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS IS EXPECTED AS THIS ELONGATED
TROUGHING REMAINS TRAPPED BETWEEN CENTRAL ATLC RIDGE...AND MID
LEVEL HIGH BUILDING INTO SE CARIB UNDERNEATH THIS SYSTEM. THE
TROUGH OR LOW MAY THEN LINGER ACROSS THE ATLC WITHIN A FEW DEGREES
OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY...AND COULD
PROLONG THIS RAIN EVENT FOR THE LOCAL AREA. THUS RAINFALL
ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ACROSS PUERTO RICO...AND 4 TO 8
INCHES ACROSS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS...
WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 523 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008/
DISCUSSION...DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS THE DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR
DETECTED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
COASTAL WATERS ROTATING AROUND A LOW PRESSURE CENTER JUST SOUTH OF
PUERTO RICO. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AFFECTED
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...VIEQUES...CULEBRA AND THE EASTERN
SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO...PRODUCING RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF
BETWEEN 1 TO 2 INCHES. THIS ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE
REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT AND FOR THAT REASON A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACTIVITY ACROSS THE FA WERE ASSOCIATED
WITH A LARGE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW
PRESSURE CENTER JUST SOUTH OF PUERTO RICO THIS MORNING. THIS
SYSTEM IS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS OVER THE
LESSER ANTILLES AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN AND ATLANTIC
WATERS FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES. THIS MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE
MOVING VERY SLOWLY WEST NORTHWEST TODAY AND TOMORROW...MAINTAINING
A WET WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE FA. LATEST PROJECTIONS OF THE GFS
MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THE BULK OF THIS MOISTURE WILL
PERSIST ACROSS THE FA UNTIL AT LEAST MONDAY.
ACCORDINGLY TO THE LATEST TWO ISSUED BY NHC...THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES
TO SHOW SIGNS OF ORGANIZATION...AND UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM DURING
THIS TIME AS THE SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD. REGARDLESS OF
DEVELOPMENT...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL
AFFECT MUCH OF THE LESSER ANTILLES...THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO
RICO THROUGH TONIGHT.
THUS...NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER ACROSS
THE REGION...WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE
LOCAL ISLANDS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACROSS PUERTO RICO
AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS
SYSTEM DURING THE REST OF THE WEEKEND.
AVIATION...CONSIDERABLE CLOUDINESS WILL COVER THE LOCAL FLYING
AREA TODAY AS AN ELONGATED AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH
A TROPICAL WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. THE MAIN AXIS OF ACTIVITY
EXTENDED NORTHWARD FROM THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN ACROSS EASTERN
PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS THIS MORNING. A MODERATE
NORTHERLY LLVL FLOW WILL TRANSPORT RAPIDLY MOVING MVFR SHRA/TSRA
WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE THE EASTERN SECTIONS OF PUERTO
RICO...AND PARTS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND SURROUNDING WATER
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. LATER IN THE DAY...BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS
IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS WITH
A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT LATER IN THE EVENING AS THE TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS
NORTHWEST. WEATHER HAZARDS WILL BE MAINLY IN AND AROUND THE SHOWER
AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.
MARINE...GENERALLY EXPECT WINDS OF 20 KNOTS OR LESS AND SEAS OF
7 FEET OR LESS ACROSS THE REGIONAL WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. WINDS
AND SEAS WILL BE HIGHER NEAR THUNDERSTORMS AND SQUALLS WITH WIND
GUSTS UP TO 30 KNOTS NEAR SCATTERED SQUALLS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS. SQUALLY WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN
WATERS AND PASSAGES THIS MORNING...REACHING THE LOCAL ATLANTIC
WATERS BY THIS AFTERNOON.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 88 77 88 77 / 60 60 60 40
STT 86 78 87 78 / 80 60 70 40
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM AST THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL
INTERIOR-CULEBRA-EASTERN INTERIOR-MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-
NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST-PONCE AND VICINITY-SAN
JUAN AND VICINITY-SOUTHEAST-SOUTHWEST-VIEQUES-WESTERN
INTERIOR.
VI...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM AST THIS EVENING FOR ST CROIX-ST.
THOMAS/ST. JOHN/ADJACENT ISLANDS.
&&
70/99HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 634 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 AMZ710>750-PRZ001>013-221045- SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-NORTHEAST-SOUTHEAST-EASTERN INTERIOR- NORTH CENTRAL-CENTRAL INTERIOR-PONCE AND VICINITY-NORTHWEST- WESTERN INTERIOR-MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-SOUTHWEST-CULEBRA-VIEQUES- THE NEARSHORE AND OFF SHORE ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS- 634 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AN ELONGATED AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVING SLOWLY ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA WILL MAINTAIN MOIST AND UNSTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION TODAY THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. THEREFORE...HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING DUE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATER THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE AS IT MOVES NORTH NORTHWEST ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. THE COMBINATION OF THIS FEATURE...AND FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS...WILL ENHANCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY. MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AT LEAST THROUGH TUESDAY...THE PROXIMITY OF THE DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE TROUGH AND A RELATIVELY MOIST ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE REGION WILL COMBINE WITH DIURNAL AND LOCAL EFFECTS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PUERTO RICO AND ADJACENT ISLANDS AT LEAST TUESDAY. THE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE ENHANCED BY AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LIFTING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL LEAD TO MINOR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING DUE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION REQUIRED SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY AMZ720-730-VIZ001-002-221045- ST. THOMAS ST. JOHN ADJACENT ISLANDS-ST CROIX- NEARSHORE ATLANTIC AND ADJACENT CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS- 634 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AN ELONGATED AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVING SLOWLY ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA WILL MAINTAIN MOIST AND UNSTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION TODAY THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. THEREFORE...HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING DUE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATER THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE AS IT MOVES NORTH NORTHWEST ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. THE COMBINATION OF THIS FEATURE...AND FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS... WILL ENHANCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY. MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AT LEAST THROUGH TUESDAY...THE PROXIMITY OF THE DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE TROUGH AND A RELATIVELY MOIST ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE REGION WILL COMBINE WITH DIURNAL AND LOCAL EFFECTS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PUERTO RICO AND ADJACENT ISLANDS AT LEAST TUESDAY. THE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE ENHANCED BY AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LIFTING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL LEAD TO MINOR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING DUE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION REQUIRED SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 1004 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-211800- PUERTO RICO-CULEBRA PR-VIEQUES PR-SAINT JOHN VI-SAINT THOMAS VI-SAINT CROIX VI- 1004 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 ...SLOW MOVING TROPICAL DISTURBANCE TO AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY... AN ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...AND WIDESPREAD DISTURBED WEATHER...DRIFTING SLOWLY NORTH NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS HAS BEGUN TO LIFT INTO THE LOCAL AREA SINCE THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY. SATELLITE IMAGERY AND NWS SAN JUAN DOPPLER RADAR LATE THIS MORNING SUGGEST THAT THIS SYSTEM IS BECOMING A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED...AND UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS ARE GRADUALLY EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. COMPUTER MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL DRIFT SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND THEN MAY MEANDER ACROSS THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS THROUGH TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY. THUS...ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA FOR TWO DAYS OR MORE. GIVEN THIS SCENARIO...HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THIS PROLONGED PERIOD COULD RESULT IN ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION...AND REMAIN AWARE OF FLOODING POTENTIAL IN YOUR SPECIFIC LOCATION AT ALL TIMES. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 1004 AM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-211800- PUERTO RICO-CULEBRA PR-VIEQUES PR-SAINT JOHN VI-SAINT THOMAS VI-SAINT CROIX VI- 1240 PM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 ...SLOW MOVING TROPICAL DISTURBANCE TO AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY... AN ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...AND WIDESPREAD DISTURBED WEATHER...DRIFTING SLOWLY NORTH NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS HAS BEGUN TO LIFT INTO THE LOCAL AREA SINCE THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY. SATELLITE IMAGERY AND NWS SAN JUAN DOPPLER RADAR LATE THIS MORNING SUGGEST THAT THIS SYSTEM IS BECOMING A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED...AND UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS ARE GRADUALLY EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. COMPUTER MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL DRIFT SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND THEN MAY MEANDER ACROSS THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS THROUGH TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY. THUS...ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA FOR TWO DAYS OR MORE. GIVEN THIS SCENARIO...HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THIS PROLONGED PERIOD COULD RESULT IN ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION...AND REMAIN AWARE OF FLOODING POTENTIAL IN YOUR SPECIFIC LOCATION AT ALL TIMES. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 1240 PM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-211800- PUERTO RICO-CULEBRA PR-VIEQUES PR-SAINT JOHN VI-SAINT THOMAS VI-SAINT CROIX VI- 1240 PM AST SUN SEP 21 2008 ...SLOW MOVING TROPICAL DISTURBANCE TO AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY... AN ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...AND WIDESPREAD DISTURBED WEATHER...DRIFTING SLOWLY NORTH NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS HAS BEGUN TO LIFT INTO THE LOCAL AREA SINCE THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY. SATELLITE IMAGERY AND NWS SAN JUAN DOPPLER RADAR LATE THIS MORNING SUGGEST THAT THIS SYSTEM IS BECOMING A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED...AND UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS ARE GRADUALLY EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. COMPUTER MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL DRIFT SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND THEN MAY MEANDER ACROSS THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS THROUGH TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY. THUS...ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA FOR TWO DAYS OR MORE. GIVEN THIS SCENARIO...HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THIS PROLONGED PERIOD COULD RESULT IN ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION...AND REMAIN AWARE OF FLOODING POTENTIAL IN YOUR SPECIFIC LOCATION AT ALL TIMES. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SS
COMUNICADO ESPECIAL SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR 1240 PM AST DOMINGO 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2008 PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-211800- PUERTO RICO-CULEBRA PR-VIEQUES PR-SAINT JOHN VI-SAINT THOMAS VI-SAINT CROIX VI- 1240 PM AST DOMINGO 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2008 ...UN DISTURBIO TROPICAL QUE SE MUEVE LENTAMENTE AFECTARA EL AREA LOCAL CON PERIODOS DE LLUVIAS FUERTES HASTA AL MENOS EL LUNES... UN AREA ELONGADA DE BAJA PRESION...CON TIEMPO PERTURBADO GENERALIZADO...DESPLAZANDOSE LENTAMENTE AL NOR NOROESTE A TRAVES DEL CARIBE ORIENTAL DURANTE LAS PASADAS 24 HORAS HA COMENZADO A DESPLAZARSE HACIA EL AREA LOCAL DESDE TEMPRANO ESTA MANANA. LAS IMAGENES DEL SATELITE Y EL RADAR DOPPLER SUGIEREN QUE ESTE SISTEMA SE ESTA TORNANDO UN POCO MEJOR ORGANIZADO...Y SE ESPERA QYUE LAS CONDICIONES EN LOS NIVELES ALTOS DE LA ATMOSFERA SE TORNEN UN POCO MAS FAVORABLES PARA QUE SE INTENSIFIQUE DURANTE LOS PROXIMOS DIAS. LOS ULTIMOS MODELOS DE LA COMPUTADORA SUGIEREN QUE ESTE SISTEMA SE DESPLAZARA LENTAMENTE AL NORTE A TRAVES DE LAS ISLAS LOCALES DURANTE LAS PROXIMAS 24 HORAS...Y DEAMBULARA A TRAVES DE LAS AGUAS MAR AFUERA DEL ATLANTICO DURANTE MARTES Y MIERCOLES. POR TANTO... ABUNDANTE HUMEDAD TROPICAL ASOCIADA CON ESTE SISTEMA PUDIERA AFECTAR EL ARA LOCAL POR DOS DIAS O MAS. DADO ESTE ESCENARIO...FUERTES LLUVIAS A TRAVES DE LAS ISLAS LOCALES DURANTE UN PERIODO PROLONGADO PODRIA PRODUCIR ACUMULACIONES DE 6 A 12 PULGADAS CON CANTIDADES AISLADAS MAYORES. SE LES PIDE A LOS RESIDENTES Y VISTANTES A MANTENERSE INFORMADOS A ESTA SITUACION METEOROLOGICA EN DESARROLLO Y PERMANECER ATENTOS AL POTENCIAL DE INUNDACIONES EN SU AREA EN ESPECIFICO. ESTE SISTEMA TIENE POTENCIAL PARA CONVERTIRSE EN DEPRESION TROPICAL DURANTE LAS PROXIMAS 24 HORAS...Y UN AVION CAZAHURAANES ESTA PAUTADO A INVESTIGAR ESTE SISTEMA DURANTE LAS PROXIMAS HORAS.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
27 flash flood, 8 heavy rain, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A home patio at barrio Las Ochenta in Salinas was reported flooded.
Flooding was reported at Paso Seco, number 3 street in Santa Isabel.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Jaguar and Rincon in the municipality of Gurabo.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Espino, Barriada Roosevelt, and at Vistas de San Lorenzo.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Los Pollos along road 757, Barrio Dajaos, Recio, Lamboglia and Guardarraya in the municipality of Patillas.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Juan Martinez along road 901, Barrio Limones along road 902, at Sector Los Colobos and in the neighborhoods of Jardines and Brisas de Yabucoa.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Calabazas and and Barrio Jacanas in Yabucoa.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Columbia, Barrio Las Lizas, and along roads 759 and 578, in Maunabo. A person was overtaken by flood waters at Barrio Palo Seco and drowned when he suffered a heart attack while attempting to cross a flooded bridge.
Flooding was reported at Palmas 2, and along roads 637 and 638 in the municipality of Arroyo.
Flooding was reported along road 3 in Candelero, Barrio Junquillo, in front of Walmart, Barrio Buena Vista and Pasto Viejo, and San Antonio neighborhood in Humacao.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Los Rios, Mamey, La Providencia, and Sector La Linea in Patillas.
Flooding was reported along Highway 31 in Naguabo.
Flooding was reported at Parcelas Hill Brother, Barriada San Jose, Baldrich, Dos Pinos, Villa Andalucia, Paris Street, Barrio Obrero, and Villa Palmeras in San Juan.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Junquillo, Villa Oriente, Extension Roig, Los Rosales, Buena Vista, Ciudad Cristiana, San Antonio, Mansiones del Caribe, and Villas del Rio, Punta Santiago along road 3, and Parque Industrial in Humacao.
Flooding was reported along route 66, Villa Fontana, Valle Arriba Heights, La Marina at Los Angeles, Country Club, and Vista Mar in Carolina.
Flooding was reported at Barriada San Felipe, Jardines de Lafayette, and Las Mininas in Arroyo.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Canta Gallo along road 189, Villa Graciela, and Barrio Mamey in Juncos.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Olimpo, Barrio Machete along road 744, Villa Capo along road 179 in Guayama. One resident of was swept underneath an automobile by the river Guamani currents and drowned. Another person suffered a heart attack as he was bailing flood water out of his home.
Flooding was reported in Residencial Isidro, Jardines de Lafayette, Arizona street, Morse street along road 167, Las Mininas, Barrio Yaurel along road 753, and Barrio Pitahaya in Arroyo.
Flooding was reported along road 54 junction with road 748, Los Algarrobos, Barrio Olimpo El Cristo Rey, Vives, Barriada Blondet, Barrio Cimarrona and Barrio Mosquito in Guayama.
Flooding was reported at Chardon street, Barriada Bitumul, and Barriada Figueroa in San Juan.
Flooding was reported at Coto Laurel in Ponce.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Pastillo Prieto, and at Camino Real along road 149 in Juana Diaz.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Arenas in Guanica.
Flooding was reported at Brisas del Prado, Olympic Ville, Palma Royale, La Estancia, in Las Piedras. One car driver was swept away by the current as he attempted to cross a flooded bridge along road 917 in Las Piedras.
Flooding was reported at Campo Rico along road 185, and at Cubuy along road 186 in Canovanas.
Flooding was reported along road 117 near Puente de la LLave de Oro in Lajas. An automobile was reported trapped by flood waters.
A home was reported at Jardines de Lajas.
Flooded homes were reported at Barrio Cafetal and Hacienda Florida in Yauco.
A river was reported overflowing its banks at Barrio Saliente Ceboruco in Penuelas. Flooding was reported at Barrio Caracoles 2 Calle Principal and at Sector Pueblito.
Flooding was reported at Barrio La Parguera and Parcelas Maguayo in Lajas.
Flooding was reported in sevral sectors of Guayanilla, Barrio Playa Calle Principal, Sector Playita, near Las Cucharas, and along road 382 in Guayanilla.
Flooding was reported in the following sectors of Ponce, Extension Punto Oro, Punta Diamante, Las Americas Housing, Santa Teresita, Vista Mar, Playa de Ponce, Barrio Magueyes, Villa Esperanza, El Madrigal, Villa Grillasca, Barrio Salistral, Perla del Sur, Barrio Rio Chiquito, Machuelo Avenue, and Mariani. Several homes were reported flooded.
Flooding was reported at Barrio Puig and Barrio Arenas in Guanica.
Flooding was reported at Combate El Faro Sector, Reparto San Salvador, Villa Milagros, Boqueron Villas, El Corozo, Barrio Monte Grande, Las Palmas, and along road 3301, 102 and 103 in Cabo Rojo.
Flooding was reported in the following sectors of Ponce, La Lula, Highway 1 in front of Mercedita Airport, Madrigal, Barrio Los Chinos, and Barrio Tamarindo. A 29 yer old person was overtaken by the flood waters of River Portuguez a he attempted to cross a low bridge on foot during the late morning of Tuesday September 23, along road 505, at Barrio Las Yucas in the municipality of Ponce.
Flooding was reported Barrio Monte Grande, roads 101, 102, 103, Bello Horizonte, Puerto Real, and Finquitas Betances in Cabo Rojo.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Southeast | 2008-09-21 | 43 | Male | Unknown | Indirect |
| Flash Flood, Southeast | 2008-09-21 | 76 | Male | Permanent Home | Indirect |
| Flash Flood, Southeast | 2008-09-21 | 44 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Eastern Interior | 2008-09-21 | 52 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flood, Ponce and Vicinity | 2008-09-23 | 29 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, September 2008
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: 136037, 136044, 136430, 136440, 136074, 136057, 136067, 136425, 136455, 136461, 136738, 136741, 136740, 136737, 136739, 136743, 136744, 136745, 136760, 136773, 136794, 136795, 136796, 136799, 137026, 136798, 136797, 137006, 137013, 137012, 137007, 137009, 137008, 137010, 137011, 137015, 137014.