Hazardous marine conditions affected the north and east facing coast of Puerto Rico. As a result, strong rip currents affected the north and east coasts.
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.
Hazardous marine conditions affected the north and east facing coast of Puerto Rico. As a result, strong rip currents affected the north and east coasts.
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 Feb 22, 10:46 AM AST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1046 AM AST MON FEB 22 2016
.UPDATE...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
SHOWERS MOSTLY ACROSS THE SURROUNDING COASTAL WATERS THIS MORNING.
HOWEVER...LIMITED SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS DETECTED OVER LAND AREAS SO
FAR THIS MORNING. AS A MID TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE CONTINUES TO BUILD
OVER THE REGION...A GENERAL DRY AIR MAS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER
THE LOCAL ISLANDS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. HOWEVER...TRADE WINDS
SHOWERS WILL AFFECT THE WINDWARD EAST SECTIONS OF THE ISLANDS AT
NIGHTS AND EARLY IN THE MORNINGS...FOLLOWED BY SHALLOW AFTERNOON
CONVECTION OVER WESTERN AND INTERIOR SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO EACH
AFTERNOON. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE EXPECTED IN THE PRESENT
WEATHER PATTERN DURING THE REST OF THE WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...SURFACE WINDS WILL BECOME FROM THE EAST TO EAST
SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON AND FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. MOSTLY VFR
CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE LOCAL FLYING AREA EXCEPT ACROSS TJBQ
THIS AFTERNOON. LATEST TJSJ SOUNDING INDICATED AN EAST SOUTHEAST
WIND FLOW UP 15 KNOTS ALL THE WAY FROM THE SURFACE TO 9K
FEET...BECOMING NORTHWESTERLY UP TO 90 KNOTS AND STRONGER ALOFT.
&&
.MARINE...SEAS OF 8-10 FEET WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
MARINE CONDITIONS AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH AT LEAST
TUESDAY. THE SAN JUAN BUOY INDICATED A NORTHERLY SWELL AT AROUND
9 FEET WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD BETWEEN 11 AND 13 SECONDS. THIS
SWELL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE BREAKING WAVE HEIGHTS BETWEEN 12 AND
14 FEET. THEREFORE...A HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND A COASTAL FLOOD
ADVISORY ARE IN EFFECT ACROSS THE NORTHERN COASTAL SECTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO. IN ADDITION...A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS EXPECTED FOR
MOST OF THE BEACHES ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF PUERTO RICO...VIEQUES
AND CULEBRA...AS WELL AS FOR THE NORTH AND EAST FACING BEACHES OF
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. REFER TO THE MARINE PRODUCTS FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARINE CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO SLOWLY
IMPROVE THROUGH MIDWEEK.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED /
SYNOPSIS...A MID TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION
PERSISTING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS
THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC WILL ALLOW A WEAK TROUGH TO MOVE
WESTWARD OVER THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO TODAY INTO
TUESDAY. GENERALLY...A TRADE WIND PATTERN WILL PERSIST DURING MOST
OF THE WEEK.
DISCUSSION...CLOUDY AND RAINY CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING THE
OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. THE DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THE
HIGHER RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OVER THE MUNICIPALITIES OF NORTH
CENTRAL PUERTO RICO WITH AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.5 AND 1.5
INCHES...ELSEWHERE AROUND A QUARTER OF AN INCH FELL. SHOWER
ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING
HOURS...FOLLOWED BY PERIODS OF MODERATE RAINFALL ACTIVITY OVER THE
INTERIOR AND WESTERN SECTIONS...WITH MOSTLY FAIR WEATHER ACROSS
THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA.
A MID TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN
PRODUCING SUBSIDENCE ALOFT. ALSO...MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGEST A DRY
AIR MASS AT THESE LEVEL KEEPING THE AFTERNOON CONVECTION MAINLY
SHALLOW DURING MOST OF THE WEEK. HOWEVER...TRADE WINDS SHOWERS
WILL AFFECT THE WINDWARD EAST SECTIONS OF THE ISLANDS AT NIGHT
AND EARLY IN THE MORNING...FOLLOWED BY SHALLOW AFTERNOON
CONVECTION OVER THE NW PR EACH AFTERNOON. IN GENERAL...NO
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IMPACT IS EXPECTED DURING THE WEEK AS THE MID
TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE DOMINATES THE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
AVIATION...SFC WINDS VEERING FROM NNE TO ESE AROUND TROF...NOW PAST
TJSJ. TROF SHOULD BE BYD TJBQ BY 22/21Z. NUMR SHRA AHD OF TROF NOW
INLAND OVER WEST CENTRAL PR WITH MTN OBSCURATIONS AND MVFR CONDS
INLAND EAST AND WEST. VFR CONDS PREVAILING AT TAF SITES XCP FOR TJBQ
WITH OCNL CIGS AOB 030. CONDS IMPVG WITH TROF PSG. MOSTLY DRY ABV
FL100 XCP FOR SHRA TOPS. WINDS ALF NE 10 TO 15 KT BLO FL100...BCMG
SE. MAX WINDS WEST NR 85 KT AT FL410-450.
MARINE...SEAS OF 8-10 FEET WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
MARINE CONDITIONS AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH AT LEAST
TUESDAY. THE SAN JUAN BUOY INDICATED A NORTHERLY SWELL AT AROUND
9 FEET WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD BETWEEN 11 AND 13 SECONDS. THIS
SWELL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE BREAKING WAVE HEIGHTS BETWEEN 12 AND
14 FEET. THEREFORE...A HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND A COASTAL FLOOD
ADVISORY ARE IN EFFECT ACROSS THE NORTHERN COASTAL SECTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO. IN ADDITION...A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS EXPECTED FOR
MOST OF THE BEACHES ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF PUERTO RICO...VIEQUES
AND CULEBRA...AS WELL AS FOR THE NORTH AND EAST FACING BEACHES OF
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. REFER TO THE MARINE PRODUCTS FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARINE CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO SLOWLY
IMPROVE THROUGH MIDWEEK.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 87 76 88 75 / 50 20 30 30
STT 84 76 85 75 / 20 30 30 30
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR CULEBRA-MAYAGUEZ
AND VICINITY-NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST-SAN JUAN AND
VICINITY-VIEQUES-WESTERN INTERIOR.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM AST TUESDAY FOR NORTH CENTRAL-
NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST-SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-SOUTHEAST-WESTERN
INTERIOR.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM AST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTH
CENTRAL-NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST-SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-SOUTHEAST-
WESTERN INTERIOR.
VI...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR ST CROIX-ST.
THOMAS/ST. JOHN/ADJACENT ISLANDS.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM AST TUESDAY FOR ST. THOMAS/ST.
JOHN/ADJACENT ISLANDS.
AM...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR COASTAL WATERS OF
NORTHERN USVI AND CULEBRA OUT 10 NM-COASTAL WATERS OF
SOUTHERN USVI VIEQUES AND EASTERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM AST TUESDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS OF
SOUTHERN USVI VIEQUES AND EASTERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM AST WEDNESDAY FOR ATLC WATERS OF
PUERTO RICO AND USVI FROM 10NM TO 19.5N-COASTAL WATERS OF
NORTHERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM AST TUESDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS
OF NORTHERN USVI AND CULEBRA OUT 10 NM-COASTAL WATERS OF
NORTHWESTERN PUERTO RICO OUT 10 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM AST TUESDAY FOR ANEGADA PASSAGE
SOUTHWARD TO 17N-MONA PASSAGE SOUTHWARD TO 17N.
&&
72/13PERSPECTIVAS SOBRE CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO PELIGROSAS SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR 542 AM AST LUNES 22 DE FEBRERO DE 2016 AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-230945-SAN JUAN Y VECINDAD-NORESTE-SURESTE- ESTE INTERIOR-NORTE CENTRAL-CENTRAL INTERIOR-PONCE Y VECINDAD- NOROESTE-OESTE INTERIOR-MAYAGUEZ Y VECINDAD-SUROESTE-CULEBRA-VIEQUES- LAS AGUAS COSTERAS CERCA DE LA COSTA Y LAS AGUAS DE MAR AFUERA DEL ATLANTICO Y DEL CARIBE- 542 AM AST LUNES 22 DE FEBRERO DE 2016 ESTA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO PELIGROSAS ES PARA PUERTO RICO Y LAS ISLAS COSTERAS ADYACENTES DEL ATLANTICO. .DIA UNO...HOY Y ESTA NOCHE .OLAS...MAR PICADO OLAS DE HASTA 8 A 10 PIES SON ANTICIPADAS A TRAVES DE LA COSTA NORTE...OLAS ROMPIENTES DE HASTA 14 PIES SON POSIBLE. INUNDACIONES COSTERAS MENORES SON POSIBLE EN ESTAS AREAS. .CORRIENTE SUBMARINAS...HAY UN ALTO RIESGO DE CORRIENES SUBMARINAS PARA LAS PLAYAS DEL NORTE Y NORESTE. .DIAS DOS HASTA SIETE...MARTES A DOMINGO SE ANTICIPA FUERTES RESACAS CONTINUARAN HASTA MARTES EN LA MANANA. UNA ADVERTENCIA DE ALTO RIESGO DE CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS CONTINUA HASTA MARTES EN LA MANANA. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIN REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES... NO SE ANTICIPA ACTIVACION AMPLIA DE OBSERVADORES, SIN EMBARGO, SE LES EXHORTA A LOS OBSERVADORES INDIVIDUALES A REPORTAR CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS INUNDACIONES EN LA COSTA Y LA ALTURA DE LAS RESACAS Y ROMPIENTES AL SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGA EN SAN JUAN. AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-230945- SAN TOMAS-ST. JOHN E ISLAS ADYACENTES-SANTA CRUZ 542 AM AST LUNES 22 DE FEBRERO DE 2016 ESTA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE LAS CONDICIONES DEL TIEMPO PELIGROSAS ES PARA LAS ISLAS VRGENES AMERICANAS Y LAS AGUAS ADYACENTES COSTERAS. .DIA UNO...HOY Y ESTA NOCHE .CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS...HAY UN ALTO RIESGO DE CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS EN LAS PLAYAS DE NORTE Y ESTE .DIAS DOS A SIETE...MARTES A DOMINGO ALTO RIESGO DE CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS HABRA DE CONTINUAR HASTA AL MENOS MIERCOLES EN LA TARDE PARA SAN TOMAS...Y HASTA TARDE EN LA NOCHE DEL MIERCOLES PARA SANTA CRUZ. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIN REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES... NO SE ANTICIPA ACTIVACION AMPLIA DE OBSERVADORES, SIN EMBARGO, SE LES EXHORTA A LOS OBSERVADORES INDIVIDUALES A REPORTAR CORRIENTES SUBMARINAS AL SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGA EN SAN JUAN.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Based on the information from Emergency Managers, A male tourist was carried away by rip currents and drowned.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Current, Northeast | 2016-02-22 | Male | Unknown | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, February 2016
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: 622181.