Large long period northeast swells affected the north coast of Puerto Rico with swells between 7 to 9 feet with periods of 15 to 17 seconds.
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.
Large long period northeast swells affected the north coast of Puerto Rico with swells between 7 to 9 feet with periods of 15 to 17 seconds.
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 Apr 28, 11:55 AM AST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1155 AM AST SUN APR 28 2013
.UPDATE...SHOWERS HAVE STARTED DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN QUADRANT. A FEW
PASSING SHOWERS HAVE ALSO BEEN OBSERVED ACROSS THE NEARSHORE
ATLANTIC WATERS.
THIS GENERAL PATTERN OF DEVELOPING SHOWERS ACROSS PUERTO RICO IS
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CURRENT FORECAST. LATEST SOUNDING SUGGESTED
THAT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY IS ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND ONE
OR TWO THUNDERSTORMS. NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE CURRENT FORECAST.
&&
.AVIATION...MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND TJMZ THIS
AFTERNOON AS SHRA/TSRA DEVELOP OVER THE AREA WITH VCSH/VCTS
POSSIBLE FOR TJPS. AS CLOUDS INCREASE TODAY...MTN OBSCURATIONS ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE. THE REST OF THE AREA SHOULD REMAIN MOSTLY VFR WITH
ISOLD/SCT PASSING SHRA. WIND WILL PREVAIL FROM THE EAST AT AROUND
10 KTS WITH SEA BREEZE VARIATIONS. WEATHER CONDITIONS IMPROVING
TONIGHT AFTER 29/00Z WITH WINDS DECREASING.
&&
.MARINE...NO CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...THE HIGH SURF
AND SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 527 AM AST SUN APR 28 2013/
SYNOPSIS...A STRONG DEEP LAYERED LOW SUPPORTED BY A 1006
MILLIBAR LOW ACROSS THE NORTHEAST ATLANTIC WILL PERSIST THROUGH AT
LEAST THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WHILE BROAD AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE
WILL CONTINUE TO EXIT THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF THE UNITED STATES
INTO THE WESTERN AND SOUTHWEST ATLANTIC OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THESE TWO FEATURES WILL MAINTAIN A ZONAL FLOW ALOFT...AND ALSO
CONTINUE TO INDUCE AND MAINTAIN MODERATE EAST TO NORTHEAST TRADE
WINDS ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA AT LEAST THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
WEEK. THEREAFTER THE RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN...LEADING TO A
LOOSENING OF LOCAL PRESSURE GRADIENT AND THUS DECREASING THE
EASTERLY TRADE WINDS.
DISCUSSION...A SURGE OF LOW TO MID LEVEL MOISTURE IN THE PREVAILING
EAST NORTHEAST WIND FLOW CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE LOCAL AREA DURING THE
OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. THIS RESULTED IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
SHOWERS ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS AND ALONG THE NORTH AND EAST COASTAL
SECTIONS OF MOST OF THE ISLANDS. LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY AND MODEL
GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THIS AREA OF CLOUDINESS WITH EMBEDDED SHOWERS
SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH BY LATE MORNING... WITH LESSER CLOUDINESS
AND SHOWER ACTIVITY EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON. LOCAL AND DIURNAL
EFFECTS WILL HOWEVER BE SUFFICIENT TO AID IN SOME SHOWER DEVELOPMENT
MAINLY ACROSS PARTS OF THE INTERIOR AND WEST SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO.
BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK AND INTO THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND...LATEST
MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUED TO SUGGEST A MUCH WETTER MOISTURE PATTERN
WITH PWAT VALUES IN EXCESS OF 2.00 INCHES AS A DEEP LAYERED TONGUE
TO TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL BE LIFTED UP ACROSS THE REGION. THEREFORE
STILL LOOKING FOR INCREASED CLOUDINESS AND BETTER CHANCE FOR EARLY
MORNING AND AFTERNOON CONVECTION EACH DAY. MORE TO COME ON THIS AS
THE WEEK UNFOLDS.
AVIATION...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE LOCAL FLYING
AREA FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HOWEVER...BRIEF PERIODS OF MVFR
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS TJBQ UNTIL AT LEAST 28/12Z
AND ACROSS TJPS BETWEEN 28/18Z-22Z DUE TO SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT.
SURFACE WINDS WILL BE FROM THE NORTHEAST AT LESS THAN 10 KT...
INCREASING TO 10-15KT AFTER 28/12Z.
MARINE...BOTH OF THE BUOYS 41043 AND 41044 INDICATED THAT THE NORTHEAST
SWELLS HAD PEAKED...BUT WERE STILL GENERATING SEAS BETWEEN 8 TO 9 FEET
AROUND 15 SECS. THE SAN JUAN BUOY ALSO SHOWED SEAS OF 7 TO 8 FEET AROUND
16 SECS. BASED ON THE RECENT DATA THESE SWELLS ARE STILL CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING ROUGH AND HAZARDOUS SEAS AND DANGEROUS SURF ZONE CONDITIONS.
THEREFORE SMALL CRAFTS ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE LOCAL
WATERS. IN ADDITION THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT AT
LEAST UNTIL EARLY MONDAY MORNING DUE TO ROUGH SURF CONDITIONS AND HEIGHTENED
RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
AND MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE WFO SAN JUAN OFFICE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 84 74 85 75 / 20 20 20 20
STT 85 75 85 76 / 20 20 20 10
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM AST MONDAY FOR CULEBRA-NORTH
CENTRAL-NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST-SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-SOUTHEAST-
WESTERN INTERIOR.
VI...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM AST MONDAY FOR ST CROIX-ST.
THOMAS/ST. JOHN/ADJACENT ISLANDS.
COASTAL WATERS...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM AST TUESDAY FOR ANEGADA PASSAGE
SOUTHWARD TO 17N-CARIBBEAN WATERS OF PUERTO RICO FROM 10 NM
TO 17N-COASTAL WATERS OF NORTHERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM-
COASTAL WATERS OF NORTHERN USVI AND CULEBRA OUT 10 NM-
COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHERN USVI VIEQUES AND EASTERN PUERTO
RICO OUT 10 NM-MONA PASSAGE SOUTHWARD TO 17N.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM AST MONDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS OF
NORTHWESTERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM AST TUESDAY FOR ATLC WATERS OF
PUERTO RICO AND USVI FROM 10NM TO 19.5N.
&&
25/64HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 607 AM AST SUN APR 28 2013 AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-291015- 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- 607 AM AST SUN APR 28 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LONG PERIOD...NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST EXPOSURES OF ALL LOCAL ISLANDS. THESE LONG NORTHEAST SWELLS AVERAGING 15 AND 17 SECONDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY AND TONIGHT WHILE SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...MAKING MARINE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS. THESE LONG PERIOD SWELLS WILL PRODUCE LARGE BREAKING 14 TO 17 FEET OR HIGHER ALONG THE LOCAL REEFS...BEACHES AND SHOALS OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY MORNING. THESE BREAKING WAVES WILL GENERATE STRONG AND DANGEROUS CURRENTS WITHIN THE SURF ZONE...CALLED RIP CURRENTS. THESE NARROW OUTWARD FLOWING CURRENTS CAN CARRY PEOPLE AND ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE COAST LINE AND OUT TO SEA. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. CALMLY...REMAIN AFLOAT...GATHER YOUR BEARINGS RELATIVE TO THE BEACH...AND SWIM PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. YOU WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE THE GRIP OF THIS NARROW CURRENT...AND BE ABLE TO SAFELY SWIM TO SHORE. LOCAL BEACH GOERS...AND INEXPERIENCED SURFERS AND SWIMMERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL THESE HAZARDOUS SURF CONDITIONS SUBSIDE. PERSONS ON THE BEACH SHOULD BE VIGILANT FOR LARGE BREAKING WAVES SURGING UPON THE SHORE...WHICH CAN CARRY PEOPLE OF ALL SIZES INTO THE OCEAN. YOU SHOULD AVOID BEING NEAR THE SHORE LINE AND STAY OFF OF ROCK FORMATIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY LONG PERIOD...NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST EXPOSURES OF ALL LOCAL ISLANDS UNTIL MONDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... INFORMATION ABOUT SEAS AND SWELLS ARE WELCOME. AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-291015- ST. THOMAS ST. JOHN ADJACENT ISLANDS-ST CROIX- NEARSHORE ATLANTIC AND ADJACENT CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS- 607 AM AST SUN APR 28 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LONG PERIOD...NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST EXPOSURES OF ALL LOCAL ISLANDS. THESE LONG NORTHEAST SWELLS AVERAGING 15 AND 17 SECONDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY AND TONIGHT WHILE SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...MAKING MARINE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS. THESE LONG PERIOD SWELLS WILL PRODUCE LARGE BREAKING 14 TO 17 FEET OR HIGHER ALONG THE LOCAL REEFS...BEACHES AND SHOALS OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY MORNING. THESE BREAKING WAVES WILL GENERATE STRONG AND DANGEROUS CURRENTS WITHIN THE SURF ZONE...CALLED RIP CURRENTS. THESE NARROW OUTWARD FLOWING CURRENTS CAN CARRY PEOPLE AND ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE COAST LINE AND OUT TO SEA. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. CALMLY...REMAIN AFLOAT...GATHER YOUR BEARINGS RELATIVE TO THE BEACH...AND SWIM PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. YOU WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE THE GRIP OF THIS NARROW CURRENT...AND BE ABLE TO SAFELY SWIM TO SHORE. LOCAL BEACH GOERS...AND INEXPERIENCED SURFERS AND SWIMMERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL THESE HAZARDOUS SURF CONDITIONS SUBSIDE. PERSONS ON THE BEACH SHOULD BE VIGILANT FOR LARGE BREAKING WAVES SURGING UPON THE SHORE...WHICH CAN CARRY PEOPLE OF ALL SIZES INTO THE OCEAN. YOU SHOULD AVOID BEING NEAR THE SHORE LINE AND STAY OFF OF ROCK FORMATIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY LONG PERIOD...NORTHEAST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST EXPOSURES OF ALL LOCAL ISLANDS UNTIL MONDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... INFORMATION ABOUT SEAS AND SWELLS ARE WELCOME.
1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
One female drowned and three men were injured due to high surf conditions at Cueva del Indio sector.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Surf, North Central | 2013-04-28 | 44 | Female | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, April 2013
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: 449551.