Moist flow from south pushing against a frontal boundary extending out of a low pressure in the central Atlantic produced copious rainfall for much of Puerto Rico and St. Croix, USVI.
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.
Moist flow from south pushing against a frontal boundary extending out of a low pressure in the central Atlantic produced copious rainfall for much of Puerto Rico and St. Croix, USVI. A flash flood watch was in effect for the local 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 Apr 17, 5:07 AM AST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Juan PR
507 AM AST Mon Apr 17 2017
.SYNOPSIS...Moist flow from the south pushing up against a frontal
boundary extending out of a low pressure in the central Atlantic
will continue to produce copious rainfall for much of Puerto Rico
and Saint Croix today and tomorrow. North flow on Wednesday and
Thursday will allow some drying while still supporting afternoon
showers, but a fresh surge of moisture from the south will bring
back heavy rains over the weekend and into next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Wednesday...
The Flash Flood Watch continues in effect through midnight tonight.
Another day with moderate to locally heavy rainfall in the afternoon
over PR is expected as good moisture will prevail over the local
area with precipitable water values close to 2 inches. There is also
a strong jet over the local area with a speed of 90 knots
expected according the the GFS forecast sounding. This same
forecast sounding also suggests that the dew point depression
will become yet smaller, to become more saturated, as the day
progresses. So given the saturated soils, the available moisture,
the upper level jet and the decent equivalent potential
temperature expected, all combined with the local effects, we
should be in store for a relatively active day with showers and a
few thunderstorms. The only limiting factor for today would be the
cloudiness that is currently present over the area, which could
inhibit some of the convection for the afternoon, however, if any
of that cloudiness thins out then we could have good convection in
the afternoon. The USVI should observe mainly isolated to
scattered showers.
After today, it looks like it will gradually start to dry out but
Tuesday still looks like showers and thunderstorms are possible. A
slight shift to a ENE wind is possible on Tuesday, which will cause
the convection to develop more across the interior and the SW
quadrant of PR on Tuesday. For Wednesday, the available moisture
is expected to decrease significantly with precipitable water
values decreasing to about 1.5 inches and the upper level winds
decreasing to about 50 knots. This means that less shower activity
is expected on Wednesday. The USVI should observe mainly isolated
to scattered showers once again these 2 days.
.LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday
The ridge over the central Caribbean will drift over the local
area by late Friday followed immediately by a short wave trough
that will usher in the initiation of better dynamics fueled by
increasing moisture. The remains of an old frontal boundary that
was pushed into the central Caribbean south of the area Wednesday
and Thursday will return over the weekend in southerly flow at
700 mb to be followed by another plume of rich moisture out of
South America Monday into Tuesday.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue in the
afternoons over interior Puerto Rico Thursday and Friday. The
surge in moisture and minor boost in upper level dynamics will
begin a gradual increase in overall showers and cloudiness
Saturday and Sunday that will continue into mid week next week. At
this point the amount of moisture suggests that we could return to
a potential for flash flooding by Monday, while the potential for
at least local urban and small stream flooding will by high again
beginning Friday or Saturday.
&&
.AVIATION...VFR conditions expected through 17/16Z across the local
terminals with winds generally at around 10 kt or less from the east
until 17/13Z. After 17/13Z the winds will increase to about 15-20 kt
with occasional gusts from the east. SHRA and isold TSRA expected
across PR this afternoon causing VCSH/VCTS and mtn obscurations.
TEMPO SHRA/TSRA is expected, causing MVFR conditions. Wx improving
after 18/00Z, leaving ISOLD/SCT SHRA across the local area. Brief
MVFR is expected thru at least 18/02Z in TNCM, TKPK. Maximum winds
WSW 90 kt FL390-450 thru 18/02Z.
&&
.MARINE...Seas are ramping up through the Atlantic waters in
northeast swell. Heights at the inner buoy near San Juan have
pushed above 7 feet, while heights at the outer buoy are just
under 10 feet. This swell event will extend itself through at
least Tuesday before it begins to subside. Current indications are
that the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands will have high surf with 10 feet or better breaking waves
beginning Tuesday morning. Mariners will find conditions improving
Wednesday. Increased winds in the Caribbean will also support wave
development there and small craft advisories for swell entering
from the passages are already in place.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 85 74 83 74 / 60 40 30 10
STT 85 75 83 73 / 40 20 20 10
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...High Rip Current Risk through Wednesday afternoon for Culebra-
Mayaguez and Vicinity-North Central-Northeast-Northwest-San
Juan and Vicinity-Southeast-Western Interior.
Flash Flood Watch through this evening 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...High Rip Current Risk through Wednesday afternoon for St Croix-
St.Thomas...St. John...and Adjacent Islands.
Flash Flood Watch through this evening for St Croix-
St.Thomas...St. John...and Adjacent Islands.
Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM AST Wednesday for
St.Thomas...St. John...and Adjacent Islands.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM AST Wednesday 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 2 AM AST Wednesday for Coastal Waters
OF Northwestern 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.
&&
SHORT TERM...JA
LONG TERM....WSPerspectivas sobre condiciones peligrosas del tiempo Servicio Nacional de Meteorologia San Juan PR 509 AM AST lunes 17 de abril de 2017 AMZ710>745-PRZ001>013-181000- San Juan y Vecindad-Noreste-Sureste-Este Interior-Norte Central- Interior Central-Ponce y Vecindad-Noroeste-Oeste Interior- Mayaguez y Vecindad-Suroeste-Culebra-Vieques-Aguas cercanas y aguas mar afuera del Atlantico y aguas costeras del Caribe- 509 AM AST lunes 17 de abril de 2017 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 .Trondas...Existe un potencial de tronadas con fuertes lluvias y vientos en rafagas breves esta tarde a traves de porciones del interior y oeste de Puerto Rico. .Inundaciones...Lluvias fuertes podrian resultar inundaciones urbanas y de riachuelos. Una Vigilancia de Inundaciones Repentinas esta en efecto. .Vientos...Vientos sostenidos alrededor de 20 nudos se esperan a traves de las aguas locales. .Oleaje...Oleaje picado y vigoroso de hasta 8 pies a traves de las aguas del Atlantico y pasajes locales. .Corrientes marinas...Existe un riesgo alto de corrientes marinas para las playas del noroeste a noreste de Puerto Rico al igual que sobre las playas del norte de Culebra. .Dias dos a siete...martes a domingo Riesgo de corrientes marinas permanecera moderado a alto durante los proximos dias y las condiciones maritimas se esperan que permanezcan peligrosas durante los proximos dias tambien. Tambien existira la probabilidad de inundaciones urbanas y de riachuelos el martes. .Comunicado sobre informacion reportada por observadores... Algun reporte de inundaciones y fuertes lluvias sera agradecido. AMZ715-725-VIZ001-002-181000- San Tomas, San John e islas adyacentes-Santa Cruz- Aguas cercanas del Atlantico y aguas costeras adyacentes del Caribe- 509 AM AST lunes 17 de abril de 2017 Esta perspectiva sobre las condiciones del tiempo peligrosas es para Puerto Rico y las aguas costeras adyacentes del Atlantico. .Dia uno...Hoy y esta noche .Vientos...Vientos sostenidos de alrededor de 20 nudos se esperan a traves de las aguas locales. .Oleaje...Oleaje picado y vigoroso de hasta 8 pies se espera a traves de las aguas del Atlantico y pasajes locales. .Corrientes marinas...Existe un riesgo alto de corrientes marinas para el noroeste de San Tomas y el noreste de Santa Cruz. Riesgo moderado para la mayoria del resto de las playas de las Islas Virgenes excepto el este de San John. .Dias dos a siete...martes a domingo Riesgo de corrientes marinas permanecera moderado a alto durante los proximos dias y las condiciones martimas se esperan que permanezcan peligrosas durante los proximos dias tambien. .Comunicado sobre informacion reportada por observadores... No se anticipa activacion amplia de observadores, sin embargo se les exhorta a observadores a reportar inundaciones, trombas marinas, y corrientes marinas al Servicio Nacional de Meteorologia en San Juan.
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:27 UTC.
10 flash flood, 3 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency managers reported that Ave. Los Angeles, near Bebo's restaurant was impassable.
Emergency manager reported Ave. Iturregui near Cuartel Carolina Oeste impassable due to flood waters.
Emergency managers reported that Avenida Roberto Clemente near Panaderia Fernandez was impassable due to flood waters.
Emergency managers reported that in Urbanization Los Angeles, street Estrella del Norte was impassable due to flood waters.
Emergency managers reported road 191 impassable near Urbanization La Vega due to the flood waters of Rio Mameyes.
Forestry service in El Yunque indicated that they have begun to extract public and personnel for safety measures as Rio Mameyes and Espiritu Santo were out of its banks.
Rio Blanco was reported out of its banks at Road PR-31 and Sector Pitina.
Road PR-306 was reported flooded.
Cibuco River was reported out of its banks at Road PR-647 in sector Candelaria.
Rio Fajardo was reported out of its banks at Road PR-3.
Road PR-172,KM 5.2 at Millares sector in Vega Redonda was impassable and close due to a creek out of its banks.
Several mudslides were reported at roads PR-779.PR-167,PR-172 and PR-774.
Urban flooding was reported at Bo. Guayabo at PR-113,KM 4.2.
Rio Cibuco was reported out of its banks at PR-2,PR-160 and At Barrio Arenales.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, April 2017
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: 695346, 696260, 696261, 696265, 696266, 696270, 696272, 696283, 696285, 696290, 696500, 696501, 696502, 696503.