On August 22nd, a tropical disturbance emerged off the western African coast into the tropical Atlantic ocean. A surface low developed in association with the tropical disturbance, and thunderstorms became well-enough organized around the low pressure area for the system to be declared a Tropical Depression Seven at 11 am AST on the 25th.
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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.
On August 22nd, a tropical disturbance emerged off the western African coast into the tropical Atlantic ocean. A surface low developed in association with the tropical disturbance, and thunderstorms became well-enough organized around the low pressure area for the system to be declared a Tropical Depression Seven at 11 am AST on the 25th. Tracking just north of due west, Earl became a tropical storm at 5 pm AST on the 25th, the fifth tropical storm of the season. By late afternoon on the 26th Earl was becoming better organized as it continued moving westward over the Central Tropical Atlantic. At 5 pm on the 28th, a tropical storm watch was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra, around 48 hours before the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds, and was upgraded to a Hurricane Watch at 11 pm, which also included mainland Puerto Rico. Earl strengthened into a hurricane at 830 am on the 29th based on a report from the hurricane hunter aircraft. At 11 am on the 29th, a tropical storm warning was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques Culebra, and mainland Puerto Rico, a hurricane watch remained in effect. As of 5 pm on the 29th, Earl continued to strengthen and was heading for the northernmost Leeward Islands. By 2 am on the 30th Earl was passing north of Barbuda and its rainbands were approaching the Virgin Islands. At 5 am, the hurricane warning was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and was extended to Culebra and Vieques at 11 am, when Earl became a major hurricane (Category 3) since its maximum sustained winds had increased to near 120 mph. It was then located around 95 miles east northeast of Saint Thomas, or about 165 miles east of San Juan. The eye of Earl passed just north of the British Virgin Islands, and its closest point of approach to the U.S. Virgin islands was around 3 pm on the 30th when it was located about 60 miles northeast of Saint Thomas. By 5 pm Earl strengthened into a category 4 hurricane, with maximum winds of around 135 mph while it was moving away from the Virgin Islands. The hurricane warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra was changed to a tropical storm warning, and the hurricane watch for mainland Puerto Rico was discontinued but the island remained under a tropical storm warning. Earl’s closest point of approach to San Juan was at 7 pm when it was located about 95 miles northeast of San Juan. The tropical storm warning was discontinued at 7 am on Aug. 31 for both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Across Puerto Rico, the highest 24 hour rainfall amounts ending at midnight on Aug 30th were recorded in Naguabo, 5.18 inches, and Orocovis, 5.04 inches. Elsewhere across the eastern interior, central interior, and north central, rainfall amounts varied from 3 to around 4 inches. Downed trees, and flooded roads were reported in various sectors. The maximum sustained surface wind recorded at the Luis Munoz Marin airport was 33 mph from the west northwest at 814 pm on Aug. 30, with a peak gust of 45 mph from the west northwest at 332 pm.
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 Aug 30, 11:39 AM AST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1139 AM AST MON AUG 30 2010
.UPDATE...CONTINUE TO EXPECT SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS AND BREEZY TO
GUSTY WINDS ACROSS PUERTO RICO AND THE VI...AS HURRICANE EARL
TRACKS WNW.
&&
.AVIATION...INCREASING CLOUDINESS WITH +SHRA OR +TSRA ARE EXPECTED
AT ALL TAF SITES...AS HURRICANE EARL TRACKS ACROSS THE LOCAL
ISLANDS TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL LEAD TEMPO CONDITIONS OF
IFR ACROSS THE TAF SITES AT LEAST THROUGH 30/22Z. OCCASIONAL TO
FREQUENT RAINBANDS WITH EMBEDDED TSRA...AS WELL AS TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WIND GUSTS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE FLYING AREA LATE TODAY
AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY ESPECIALLY BTW NE PR AND THE NORTHERN
LEEWARD ISLANDS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 613 AM AST MON AUG 30 2010/
SYNOPSIS...HURRICANE EARL LOCATED OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD
ISLANDS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE WEST AND ACROSS THE LOCAL FORECAST
AREA. THEN ON TUESDAY NIGHT HIGH PRESSURE IN THE WEST CENTRAL
ATLANTIC WILL RIDGE TO THE SOUTHWEST AND INTO THE NORTHEAST
CARIBBEAN...AND CONTINUE UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING. A LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN THURSDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY.
DISCUSSION...OUTER BANDS FROM HURRICANE EARL HAVE BEEN AFFECTING
THE USVI...MAINLY THE NORTHERN ISLANDS. THE ST THOMAS AIRPORT
REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 29 MPH AND A GUST OF 44 MPH. THIS SAME
BAND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE WEST AND AFFECT THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO LATER THIS MORNING.
THE FORECAST TRACK OF HURRICANE EARL WILL TAKE THE SYSTEM ACROSS
THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS THIS MORNING. THIS WILL LIKELY BRING
HURRICANE CONDITIONS TO THE NORTHERN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ACROSS PUERTO RICO STARTING MID
AFTERNOON.
BANDS OF SHOWERS ASSOCIATED TO EARL WILL BECOME MORE FREQUENT
AS THE DAY GOES BY...MAINLY AFTER MID AFTERNOON. THESE BANDS WILL
PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL AND VERY GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE ISLAND.
THE STRONGER WINDS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE EASTERN AND NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF PUERTO RICO...INCLUDING HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
ALL LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EARL OVERNIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANE EARL AND ITS LOCAL IMPACTS...PLEASE
REFER TO THE LATEST SAN JUAN HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT.
AVIATION...INCREASING CLOUDINESS WITH +SHRA OR +TSRA ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE LOCAL FLYING AREA TO INCLUDE TNCM...AND TKPK...AS
HURRICANE EARL TRACKS ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
THIS WILL LEAD TEMPO CONDITIONS OF IFR ACROSS TNCM AND TKPK AT LEAST
THROUGH 30/22Z THEREAFTER...OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT RAINBANDS WITH
EMBEDDED TSRA...AS WELL AS TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS CAN BE
EXPECTED ACROSS THE FLYING AREA LATE TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH
TUESDAY ESPECIALLY BTW NE PR AND THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
MARINE...MARINERS ARE URGED TO PORT IN PORT AS MARINE CONDITIONS
WILL DETERIORATE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. HURRICANE CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN
WATERS...INCLUDING THE ANEGADA PASSAGE. ISOLATED TORNADOES OR
WATERSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...
EASTERN PASSAGES AND THE WATERS SURROUNDING THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS WITH RAIN BANDS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 89 79 90 79 / 100 100 80 30
STT 88 82 89 82 / 100 100 60 30
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...HURRICANE WATCH 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.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON 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.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING 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 THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ST CROIX-ST.
THOMAS/ST. JOHN/ADJACENT ISLANDS.
HURRICANE WARNING FOR ST CROIX-ST. THOMAS/ST. JOHN/ADJACENT
ISLANDS.
&&
23/12HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN...DELAYED ISLANDS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 805 AM AST MON AUG 30 2010 AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-311215- 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- 805 AM AST MON AUG 30 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT HURRICANE EARL WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK WEST NORTHWEST AND WILL PASS BETWEEN 75-100 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE LOCAL AREA. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL PUERTO RICO...CULEBRA AND VIEQUES. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL PUERTO RICO. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT AND FLASH FLOOD MESSAGE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY HURRICANE WATCH WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR ALL PUERTO RICO...CULEBRA...AND VIEQUES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...RAIN INFORMATION WILL BE APPRECIATED. AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-311215- ST. THOMAS ST. JOHN ADJACENT ISLANDS-ST CROIX- NEARSHORE ATLANTIC AND ADJACENT CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS- 805 AM AST MON AUG 30 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT AND FLASH FLOOD MESSAGE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUE FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...RAIN INFORMATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:15 UTC.
12 flood, 3 flash flood, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
Martinez Nadal Avenue was reported flooded near San Patricio Plaza shopping center.
A landslide closed highway 191 in or near El Yunque National Forest in Rio Grande.
Road 604 was reported flooded at Manati.
Road PR7729 was reported flooded at Cidra.
Highway 666 was reported flooded in sector Cachete.
Road 615, Km 4.0 was reported flooded at Ciales.
Road 615, Km 4.0 was reported flooded at Ciales.
Road 10 and road 123 were reported flooded in the municipality of Utuado.
Road 681, Km 9.0 was reported flooded in the municipality of Arecibo.
Road 2, km 51 was reported flooded in the municipality of Manati.
Road 2, km 32.0 was reported flooded in the municipality of Vega Alta.
Road 53 with the intersection with road 3 was reported flooded in the municipality of Fajardo.
A lane of highway 2, at Km 61.0 was reported flooded.
Minor flooding was reported at Barrio Obrero, Las Monjas sector and Loiza Avenues in Santurce.
Road 10 with the intersection with road 123 was reported flooded in the municipality of Utuado.
Road 666 with the intersection with road were reported flooded in the municipality of Manati.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, August 2010
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: 257524, 257525, 258035, 258036, 257532, 258789, 258790, 258792, 258794, 258795, 258796, 258885, 258930, 258898, 259304, 259299.