Flood in Puerto Rico, August 1, 2016

Name: Flood in Puerto Rico, August 1, 2016
Start: 2016-08-01T02:00
End: 2016-08-01T04:15
Location: Puerto Rico

August 1, 2016 · NWS SJU · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy Rain affected the southeast section of Puerto Rico as a tropical wave combined with strong daytime heating, local effects and a moist southeasterly wind flow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

Heavy Rain affected the southeast section of Puerto Rico as a tropical wave combined with strong daytime heating, local effects and a moist southeasterly wind flow.

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 Jul 31, 10:15 PM AST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 10:15 PM AST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Juan PR
1015 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

.UPDATE...Numerous showers with thunderstorms and strong gusty
winds were observed across most of Puerto Rico this afternoon and
tonight. An intense area of showers and thunderstorms moved
across the southeast sections of Puerto Rico. Rainfall amounts
between three to four inches were observed across this area.
Strong tropical wave will continue to move away from the area
overnight. However...local area remains under a very moist
southeast wind flow...which will maintain high chances for showers
across the region. Flash flood

&&

.AVIATION...SHRA/TSRA expected to continue through early Monday
morning across the flying area. MVFR conds at times are possible
with this activity thru at least 01/16z. VFR conditions expected to
prevail on Monday afternoon. The latest 01/00z TJSJ upper air
sounding indicated E-ESE winds at 10-30 kts fm the sfc to around 2
kft...30-40 kts between 2-8kft...and up to 48 kts at 15kft.

&&

.MARINE...Seas up to 8 feet and winds up to 25 kts are expected to
continue through at least monday night. Small Craft Advisory
continues in effect. High risk current was updated and extended
until Monday Evening.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 240 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016/

SYNOPSIS...Strong tropical wave will continue to bring periods of
heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the forecast area through
the overnight hours. This moist and unstable pattern will prevail
through at least Monday Afternoon. Drier and more stable air mass
is expected Tuesday through early Thursday. Then...another tropical
wave will reach the local region producing another round of showers
and thunderstorms Thursday night into Friday.

DISCUSSION...Satellite and radar imagery show a large area of
showers and thunderstorms accompanied this wave. This shower and
thunderstorm activity has been affecting most of Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. The majority of the activity has been
focused over the north and east Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques
as well as the northern U.S. Virgin Islands so far today. As the
wave axis crosses Puerto Rico this evening...the wind will shift
from the southeast focusing the showers and thunderstorms over the
south and east Puerto Rico. The fast storm motion of these storms
will likely push some showers over the northern half of the island
during the evening and overnight hours. Therefore...A Flash Flood
Watch continues for all Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin islands
due to the high risk of flooding rains. At this time...The watch
is in effect until Monday afternoon.

Although the tropical wave will move away from region early Monday...
residual moisture in the wake of the wave will keep the atmosphere
relatively unstable through at least Monday afternoon. Conditions
will likely improve on Tuesday as drier air with some Saharan Dust
particles will filter in from the east. Weather pattern will remain
generally tranquil through early Thursday. Then...Another tropical
wave will bring showers and thunderstorms over the local islands
late Thursday into Friday.

AVIATION...A tropical wave will continue to produce SHRA and TSRA
with wind gusts of 30 mph or more and lightning across the local
flying area today and tonight. MVFR or even IFR CIGS/VSBYS with
SHRA/TSRA are likely across the Leeward, USVI and PR today. Mtn
obscurations likely. Windy conditions expected at 10-20 kts with
periods of gusts of 25-35 kts mostly near showers and
thunderstorms.

MARINE...Marine conditions will continue hazardous through at
least Monday as the tropical wave moves over the regional waters.
Seas of 6-8 feet and winds of 20 to 25 knots with wind gusts in
excess of 30 knots possible with the showers and thunderstorms.
The most intense thunderstorms are capable of producing strong
gusty winds...lightning strikes and locally higher waves. Conditions
will improve gradually late Tuesday into Wednesday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU  77  89  78  90 /  80  80  40  40
STT  78  89  79  90 /  70  70  40  40

&&

.SJU Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PR...High Rip Current Risk through Monday evening for Central
     Interior-Culebra-North Central-Northeast-Northwest-Ponce
     and Vicinity-San Juan and Vicinity-Southeast-Southwest-
     Vieques-Western Interior.

     Flash Flood Watch through Monday 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.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM AST Monday for Southeast.

     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM AST Monday for Southwest.

VI...High Rip Current Risk through Monday evening for St Croix-
     St.Thomas...St. John.. and Adjacent Islands.

     Flash Flood Watch through Monday afternoon for St Croix-
     St.Thomas...St. John.. and Adjacent Islands.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM AST Monday for St.Thomas...St.
     John.. and Adjacent Islands.

AM...High Rip Current Risk through Monday evening for Coastal Waters
     OF Southwestern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of
     Northern USVI and Culebra out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of
     Southern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of Southern
     USVI Vieques and Eastern Puerto Rico out 10 NM.

     Flash Flood Watch through Monday afternoon for Caribbean Waters
     of Puerto Rico from 10 NM to 17N-Coastal Waters OF
     Southwestern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of
     Northern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of Northern
     USVI and Culebra out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of Southern
     Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of Southern USVI
     Vieques and Eastern Puerto Rico out 10 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM AST Monday for Coastal Waters of
     Northern USVI and Culebra out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of
     Southern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters of Southern
     USVI Vieques and Eastern Puerto Rico out 10 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM AST Tuesday for Anegada Passage
     Southward to 17N-Atlantic Waters of Puerto Rico and USVI
     from 10 NM to 19.5N-Caribbean Waters of Puerto Rico from 10
     NM to 17N-Coastal Waters of Northern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-
     Mona Passage Southward to 17N.

     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM AST Monday for Coastal Waters OF
     Northwestern Puerto Rico out 10 NM-Coastal Waters OF
     Southwestern Puerto Rico out 10 NM.

&&

13/71

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 7:04 AM AST, 18 hours 56 minutes before

PERSPECTIVAS SOBRE CONDICIONES PELIGROSAS DEL TIEMPO
SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR
649 AM AST DOMINGO 31 DE JULIO DE 2016

AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-011100-
SAN JUAN Y VECINDAD-NORESTE-SURESTE-INTERIOR ESTE-
CENTRAL NORTE-INTERIOR CENTRAL-PONCE Y VECINDAD-NOROESTE-
INTERIOR OESTE-MAYAGUEZ Y VECINDAD-SUROESTE-CULEBRA-VIEQUES-
AGUAS COSTERAS Y MAR AFUERA DEL ATLANTICO Y DEL CARIBE-
649 AM AST DOMINGO 31 DE JULIO DE 2016

ESTA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES PELIGROSAS DEL TIEMPO ES
PARA PUERTO RICO Y LAS AGUAS COSTERAS ADYACENTES DEL ATLANTICO.

.DIA UNO...HOY Y ESTA NOCHE

.TRONADAS...EXISTE UNA PROBABILIDAD DE TRONADAS CON LLUVIAS FUERTES
Y VIENTOS EN RAFAGAS FUERTES A TRAVES DE LA MAYORIA DE PUERTO
RICO...CULEBRA Y VIEQUES.

.INUNDACIONES...LLUVIAS FUERTES PUDIERAN CAUSAR INUNDACIONES EN
AREAS BAJAS Y DE POBRE DRENAJE AL IGUAL QUE DE RIACHUELOS.
INUNDACIONES REPENTINAS PUDIERAN OCURRIR EN AREAS AISLADAS.

.VIENTOS...VIENTOS SOSTENIDOS EN EXCESO DE 30 MPH ES POSIBLE CON LA
ACTIVIDAD DE AGUACEROS Y TRONADAS.

.OLAS...OLEAJE PELIGROSO DE 8 A 10 PIES O MAS SE ESPERA A TRAVES
DE LA MAYORIA DE LAS AGUAS LOCALES MAR AFUERA. OLEAJE PELIGROSO
HASTA 9 PIES SE ESPERAN A TRAVES DE LA MAYORIA DE AGUAS CERCANAS A
LA COSTA.

.TROMBAS MARINAS...TROMBAS MARINAS BREVES SON POSIBLES A TRAVES DE
LAS AGUAS LOCALES.

.CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS...EXISTE UN RIESGO ALTO DE CORRIENTES
SUBMARINAS PARA LAS PLAYAS DEL NORTE, SUROESTE, Y SURESTE DE PUERTO
RICO, PARA LAS PLAYAS DE CULEBRA AL IGUAL QUE PARA LAS PLAYAS DEL
SUR DE VIEQUES.

.DIAS DOS HASTA SIETE...LUNES A SABADO

HUMEDAD PERSISTENTE DETRAS DE LA FUERTE ONDA TROPICAL SE PRONOSTICA
QUE AFECTE LA REGION EL LUNES. PERIODOS DE LLUVIAS MODERADAS A
FUERTES, VIENTOS EN RAFAGAS, Y ACTIVIDAD DE RAYOS SE PODRIAN ESPERAR
A MEDIDA QUE LA ONDA TROPICAL SE ALEJE DE LA AREA LOCAL.
INUNDACIONES Y DESLIZAMIENTOS DE TIERRA, AL IGUAL QUE CONDICIONES
MARITIMAS PELIGROSAS, TAMBIEN SE PODRIAN ESPERAR. LAS CONDICIONES
MEJORARAN EL MARTES. OTRA ONDA TROPICAL SE ESPERA QUE ALCANCE LA
REGION EL VIERNES.

.COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACION REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES...

NO SE ANTICIPA ACTIVACION AMPLIA DE OBSERVADORES...SIN EMBARGO...SE
LES EXHORTA A LOS OBSERVADORES INDIVIDUALES A REPORTAR FUERTES
VIENTOS, TROMBAS MARINAS, INUNDACIONES Y CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS AL
SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA EN SAN JUAN.

AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-011100-
SAN TOMAS SAN JOHN E ISLAS ADYACENTES-
SANTA CRUZ-AGUAS CERCA DE LA COSTA DEL ATLANTICO Y AGUAS COSTERAS
ADYACENTES DEL CARIBE-
649 AM AST DOMINGO 31 DE JULIO DE 2016

ESTA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES PELIGROSAS DEL TIEMPO ES
PARA LAS ISLAS VIRGENES AMERICANAS Y LAS AGUAS COSTERAS ADYACENTES.

.DIA UNO...HOY Y ESTA NOCHE

.TRONADAS...EXISTE UNA PROBABILIDAD DE TRONADAS DISPERSAS CON LLUVIA
FUERTE Y RAFAGAS DE VIENTOS FUERTES A TRAVES DE LAS ISLAS
LOCALES.

.INUNDACIONES...LLUVIAS FUERTES PUDIERAN RESULTAR INUNDACIONES
URBANAS Y DE CUNETAS.

.VIENTOS...VIENTOS SOSTENIDOS EN EXCESO DE 30 MPH SE ESPERAN CON LA
ACTIVIDAD DE AGUACEROS Y TRONADAS.

.OLEAJE....OLEAJE PELIGROSO DE 8 A 10 PIES O MAS SE ESPERA
A TRAVES DE LA MAYORIA DE LAS AGUAS LOCALES MAR AFUERA. OLEAJE
PELIGROSO HASTA 9 PIES SE ESPERA A TRAVES DE LA MAYORIA DE AGUAS
CERCANAS A LA COSTA.

.TROMBAS MARINAS...TROMBAS MARINAS BREVES SON POSIBLES A TRAVES DE
LAS AGUAS LOCALES.

.CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS...EXISTE UN RIESGO ALTO DE CORRIENTES
SUBMARINAS PARA LAS PLAYAS DEL SUR DE SAN TOMAS Y PARA TODAS LAS
PLAYAS DE SANTA CRUZ.

.DIAS DOS A SIETE...LUNES A SABADO

HUMEDAD PERSISTENTE DETRAS DE LA FUERTE ONDA TROPICAL SE PRONOSTICA
QUE AFECTE LA REGION EL LUNES. PERIODOS DE LLUVIAS MODERADAS A
FUERTES, VIENTOS EN RAFAGAS, Y ACTIVIDAD DE RAYOS SE PODRIAN ESPERAR
A MEDIDA QUE LA ONDA TROPICAL SE ALEJE DE LA AREA LOCAL.
INUNDACIONES Y DESLIZAMIENTOS DE TIERRA, AL IGUAL QUE CONDICIONES
MARITIMAS PELIGROSAS, TAMBIEN SE PODRIAN ESPERAR. LAS CONDICIONES
MEJORARAN EL MARTES. OTRA ONDA TROPICAL SE ESPERA QUE ALCANCE
LA REGION EL VIERNES.

.COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACION REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES...

NO SE ANTICIPA ACTIVACION AMPLIA DE OBSERVADORES...SIN
EMBARGO...SELES EXHORTA A LOS OBSERVADORES INDIVIDUALES A REPORTAR
FUERTES VIENTOS, TROMBAS MARINAS, INUNDACIONES Y CORRIENTES
SUBMARINAS AL SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA EN SAN JUAN.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:17 PM AST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1117 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0126 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  HUMACAO                 18.15N 65.82W
07/31/2016  U0 MPH           HUMACAO            PR   PUBLIC

            FALLEN TREE BLOCKING 924 ROAD IN HUMACAO DIRECTION TO BO.
            PENA POBRE.

&&

ICOLON

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:19 PM AST, 2 hours 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1119 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0133 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  HUMACAO                 18.15N 65.82W
07/31/2016  U0 MPH           HUMACAO            PR   PUBLIC

            FALLEN TREE ON ROAD 30 NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO
            RICO, HUMACAO CAMPUS EXIT.

&&

ICOLON

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:20 PM AST, 2 hours 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1120 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0157 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  HUMACAO                 18.15N 65.82W
07/31/2016  U0 MPH           HUMACAO            PR   PUBLIC

            FALLEN TREE BLOCKING ROAD 906 IN BO CANDELERO ABAJO NEAR
            URB VISTA MAR.

&&

ICOLON

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:22 PM AST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1122 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0203 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  JUNCOS                  18.23N 65.92W
07/31/2016  E0 MPH           JUNCOS             PR   PUBLIC

            FALLEN TREE ON ROAD PR-30 DIRECTION TO CAGUAS NEAR EXIT
            14.

&&

ICOLON

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:24 PM AST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1124 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0205 PM     HEAVY RAIN       UTUADO                  18.27N 66.71W
07/31/2016  U0.00 INCH       UTUADO             PR   PUBLIC

            MUDSLIDE ON ROAD 123. FALLEN TREE BLOCKING THE ROAD WITH
            THIS MUDSLIDE.

&&

ICOLON

Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:25 PM AST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1125 PM AST SUN JUL 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0238 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  MAUNABO                 18.01N 65.90W
07/31/2016  U0 MPH           MAUNABO            PR   PUBLIC

            FALLEN TREE BLOCKING ROAD PR-3 AT BO. LA PICA.

&&

ICOLON

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Yabucoa

When: August 1, 2:00 AM AST to 4:15 AM AST
Where: Yabucoa County, 0.52 mi SSW of Yabucoa to 0.5 mi SSW of Yabucoa
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 18.064, -65.874

Flooding was reported in the Guayanes river.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Puerto Rico, August 2016

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: 656083.