An upper level trough persisted to the north of the local area resulting in numerous showers with scattered thunderstorms across the northern half of Puerto Rico. Very heavy rain with excessive lightning were observed over this area.
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.
An upper level trough persisted to the north of the local area resulting in numerous showers with scattered thunderstorms across the northern half of Puerto Rico. Very heavy rain with excessive lightning were observed over this area.
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 23, 2:58 PM AST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 258 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015 .SYNOPSIS... UPPER TROUGH IS STILL TO THE NORTH OF THE LOCAL AREA BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY LIFT NORTH BY FRIDAY. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY BE DISPLACED TO THE EAST AS A SURFACE LOW MOVES ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN ATLANTIC AND INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC BY THURSDAY. SURFACE LOW PRESSURES ACROSS THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN WILL KEEP A LIGHT TO MODERATE EAST SOUTHEAST WIND FLOW FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. && .DISCUSSION...NUMEROUS SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF PUERTO RICO. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING WERE OBSERVED OVER THIS AREA. THIS GENERAL WEATHER PATTERN IS NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE MUCH UNTIL THURSDAY. HOWEVER...SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS ON FRIDAY...WHICH SHOULD LIMIT SOMEWHAT THE AMOUNT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE OBSERVED THE PAST FEW DAYS. EVEN MORE DRIER AIR WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA DURING THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. AFTER THURSDAY THIS WEEK...NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A LOCAL IMPACT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. && .AVIATION...PERIODS OF MVFR OR EVEN IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN SHRA/TSRA ACROSS WESTERN AND INTERIOR PUERTO RICO WITH MOUNTAIN OBSCD AFFECTING MOSTLY TJMZ AND TJBQ UNTIL 23/22Z. MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER 23/23Z ACROSS THE LOCAL FLYING AREA. LATEST TJSJ SOUNDING INDICATED A LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND FLOW ALL THE WAY FROM THE SURFACE TO AROUND 18K FEET...BECOMING WESTERLY AND STRONGER ALOFT. && .MARINE...SEAS UP TO 4 FEET AND WINDS UP TO 15 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SJU 80 88 80 87 / 20 20 20 30 STT 83 83 83 83 / 40 30 20 20 && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...NONE. VI...NONE. AM...NONE. && 72/71
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 531 AM AST WED SEP 23 2015 AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-240945- 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- 531 AM AST WED SEP 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT .THUNDERSTORMS...THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL...BRIEF GUSTY WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND WESTERN SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO. AREAS IN AND AROUND THE SAN JUAN METROPOLITAN AREA MAY ALSO OBSERVE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. .FLOODING...DUE TO HEAVY RAINS EXPERIENCED ACROSS WESTERN PUERTO RICO...SOILS ARE SATURATED AND STREAM AND RIVER LEVELS ARE HIGH... THEREFORE FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THIS AREA. HEAVY RAINS COULD LEAD TO URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING ELSEWHERE. .RIP CURRENTS...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACHES ACROSS THE NORTH COAST OF PUERTO RICO AND CULEBRA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY SOILS ARE SATURATED AND STREAM AND RIVER LEVELS ARE HIGH ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN PUERTO RICO...THEREFORE FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THIS AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL SPOTTER ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT FLOODING AND RIP CURRENTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN JUAN. AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-240945- ST. THOMAS ST. JOHN ADJACENT ISLANDS-ST CROIX- NEARSHORE ATLANTIC AND ADJACENT CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS- 531 AM AST WED SEP 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT .RIP CURRENTS...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACHES ACROSS THE NORTH COAST OF SAINT THOMAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL SPOTTER ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT RIP CURRENTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN JUAN.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 200 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015 PRZ001-005-006-231915- NORTH CENTRAL-SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-CENTRAL INTERIOR- 200 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT TOA ALTA...VEGA BAJA...DORADO... NARANJITO...COROZAL...VEGA ALTA AND MOROVIS MUNICIPALITIES... AT 155 PM AST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR THESE MUNICIPALITIES. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 1828 6637 1837 6642 1843 6632 1834 6625 TIME...MOT...LOC 1758Z 240DEG 49KT 1835 6632 JFIGUEROA
COMUNICADO ESPECIAL SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR 200 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 PRZ001-005-006-231915- NORTE CENTRAL-SAN JUAN Y VECINDAD-INTERIOR CENTRAL- 200 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 ...UNA TRONADA FUERTE AFECTARA LOS MUNICIPIOS DE TOA ALTA...VEGA BAJA...DORADO... NARANJITO...COROZAL...VEGA ALTA Y MOROVIS... A LA 1:55 PM AST...UNA TRONADA FUERTE ESTABA CERCA DE ESTOS MUNICIPIOS. ESTA TRONADA ESTA PRODUCIENDO LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES...RAYOS FRECUENTES Y PODRIA PRODUCIR RAFAGAS DE VIENTO EN EXCESO DE 35 MPH. LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES ESTAN OCCURIENDO CON ESTA TRONADA...Y PODRIA CAUSAR INUNDACIONES LOCALIZADAS. NUNCA CONDUZCA SU VEHICULO HACIA AREAS DONDE LAS AGUAS CUBRE LA CARRETERA. RAYOS FRECUENTES DE NUBE A SUELO ESTAN OCURRIENDO CON ESTA TORMENTA. LOS RAYOS PUEDEN CAER A 15 MILLAS DE LA TRONADA. BUSQUE REFUGIO SEGURO DENTRO DE UN VEHICULO O EDIFICIO. JFR/RVT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 227 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015 PRZ005-008-009-231900- NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHWEST-WESTERN INTERIOR- 227 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT UTUADO...ARECIBO AND HATILLO MUNICIPALITIES... AT 225 PM AST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR THESE MUNICIPALITIES. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 1833 6671 1833 6679 1843 6678 1842 6671 TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 180DEG 0KT 1838 6674 JFIGUEROA
COMUNICADO ESPECIAL SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR 227 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 PRZ005-008-009-231900- NORTE CENTRAL-NOROESTE-OESTE INTERIOR- 227 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 ...UNA TRONADA FUERTE AFECTARA LOS MUNICIPIOS DE UTUADO...ARECIBO Y HATILLO... A LAS 2:25 PM AST...UNA TRONADA FUERTE ESTABA CERCA DE ESTOS MUNICIPIOS. ESTA TRONADA ESTA PRODUCIENDO LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES...RAYOS FRECUENTES Y PODRIA PRODUCIR RAFAGAS DE VIENTO EN EXCESO DE 35 MPH. LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES ESTAN OCCURIENDO CON ESTA TRONADA...Y PODRIA CAUSAR INUNDACIONES LOCALIZADAS. NUNCA CONDUZCA SU VEHICULO HACIA AREAS DONDE LAS AGUAS CUBRE LA CARRETERA. RAYOS FRECUENTES DE NUBE A SUELO ESTAN OCURRIENDO CON ESTA TORMENTA. LOS RAYOS PUEDEN CAER A 15 MILLAS DE LA TRONADA. BUSQUE REFUGIO SEGURO DENTRO DE UN VEHICULO O EDIFICIO. JFR/RVT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
313 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015
PRZ008>010-232015-
NORTHWEST-MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-WESTERN INTERIOR-
313 PM AST WED SEP 23 2015
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING CAMUY...ISABELA...
QUEBRADILLAS...SAN SEBASTIAN...AGUADA...AGUADILLA...LARES AND
MOCA MUNICIPALITIES...
AT 310 PM AST...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER ISABELA...
QUEBRADILLAS AND CAMUY MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING. INTENSE STORMS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 30 MPH.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 1849 6698 1849 6693 1848 6692 1849 6684
1827 6683 1828 6700 1841 6716 1843 6715
1846 6717 1848 6717 1851 6712 1851 6702
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 137DEG 14KT 1844 6703
ERCOMUNICADO ESPECIAL SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR 313 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 PRZ008>010-232015- NOROESTE-MAYAGUEZ Y VECINDAD-OESTE INTERIOR- 313 PM AST MIERCOLES 23 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2015 ...UNA FUERTE TRONADA FUERTE ESTABA SOBRE ISABELA QUEBRADILLAS Y CAMUY MOVIENDOSE AL NOROESTE A 10 MPH. ESTAS TRONADAS PRODUCEN LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES Y RAYOS FRECUENTESW. TRONADAS INTENSAS SON CAPACES DE PRODUCIR VIENTOS EN ECESO DE 30 MPH. LLUVIAS TORRENCIALES ESTAN OCCURIENDO CON ESTA TRONADA...Y PODRIA CAUSAR INUNDACIONES LOCALIZADAS. NUNCA CONDUZCA SU VEHICULO HACIA AREAS DONDE LAS AGUAS CUBRE LA CARRETERA. RAYOS FRECUENTES DE NUBE A SUELO ESTAN OCURRIENDO CON ESTA TORMENTA. LOS RAYOS PUEDEN CAER A 15 MILLAS DE LA TRONADA. BUSQUE REFUGIO SEGURO DENTRO DE UN VEHICULO O EDIFICIO. ER/JAE
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:01 UTC.
2 heavy rain, 1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Guajataca lake overflows due to excessive runoff from Rio Guajataca. Road 119 impassable.
Road 115 partially flooded in downtown Rincon.
Persistent heavy rains resulted in a mudslide at road 110 near El Mirador.
Persisten heavy rain resulted in a mudslide in Barrio Plana, road 446.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, September 2015
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: 603067, 603069, 603070, 603068.