Puerto Rico, 2024

Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, April 15 to 19, 2024

April 15 to 19, 2024 · NWS SJU · 22 events in 15 counties and zones

an unsettled workweek was observed for most of the region. Above normal precipitable water (PWAT) values was observed, with available moisture reaching the mid to upper levels.

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
2
Property damage
$37,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
22

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.

Under a surface-induced perturbation and associated mid to upper-level through...an unsettled workweek was observed for most of the region. Above normal precipitable water (PWAT) values was observed, with available moisture reaching the mid to upper levels. All of this caused the potential for isolated to scattered thunderstorms to increase. Although PWAT values decreased on Wednesday, fairly unstable conditions, diurnal and local effects promoted continued convective development for the second half of the workweek under ENE winds. This weather pattern lead to quick river rises and water surges with flooding, flash flooding, and landslides.

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 Apr 15, 3:28 AM AST, 9 hours 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 3:28 AM AST, 9 hours 12 minutes before
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The radar

The San Juan radar (TJUA), 29 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:38 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 flash flood, 7 flood, 3 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Naguabo

When
April 15, 12:40 PM AST to 2:00 PM AST
Where
Naguabo County, 6.57 mi W of Naguabo to 6.26 mi W of Naguabo
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.218, -65.830

Emergency Management from Naguabo informed that Rio Blanco went over a low-level crossing in Sector La Pitina in Naguabo, particularly in Carretera 31. At that time, the emergency managers were in the area and notified that no people were affected.

Flood, Humacao

When
April 16, 8:45 AM AST to 10:00 AM AST
Where
Humacao County, 2.19 mi NNW of Humacao to 2.08 mi NNW of Humacao
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
18.157, -65.818

Reports from a TV Weather Reporter indicated that flooding was occurring near a gate at Road PR-924 with PR-60, in front of Colegio San Benito in Humacao. The road was still passable.

Flood, Trujillo Alto

When
April 16, 9:45 AM AST to 11:30 AM AST
Where
Trujillo Alto County, 2.88 mi NNW of Trujillo Alto to 3.11 mi NNW of Trujillo Alto
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
18.370, -66.014

NWS Employee indicated that a lane in the marginal near Plaza Trujillo and PR-181 is impassable, and cars have to turn around and take alternative routes.

Flash Flood, Quebradillas

When
April 16, 5:36 PM AST to 6:30 PM AST
Where
Quebradillas County, 2.04 mi NNW of Quebradillas to 2.02 mi NNW of Quebradillas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.456, -66.934

Emergency managers reported that the intersection between PR-113, km 12.6, and La Romana St. next to Gringos Sports Bar was completely flooded and impassable.

Flash Flood, Quebradillas

When
April 16, 5:58 PM AST to 7:00 PM AST
Where
Quebradillas County, 0.77 mi NNE of Quebradillas to 0.71 mi NNE of Quebradillas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.440, -66.915

Emergency management reported that PR-478, km 1.8-2.2, by Barca de Oro in Sector El Fosforo was impassable due to flooded roads.

Flash Flood, Quebradillas

When
April 16, 6:10 PM AST to 8:00 PM AST
Where
Quebradillas County, 2.69 mi NNW of Quebradillas to 2.57 mi NNW of Quebradillas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.467, -66.934

Emergency management reported that two communities, La Ceiba and Santa Maria by PR-2 are completely cut off due to flooded roads.

Flash Flood, Camuy

When
April 16, 7:25 PM AST to 9:00 PM AST
Where
Camuy County, 2.19 mi WNW of Camuy to 2.15 mi WNW of Camuy
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.432, -66.881

Emergency Management and Social Media reported flooding, flash flooding and runoffs at PR-119. Flash flood was reported near a junker at km 11.9, several vehicles trapped.

Flood, Vega Alta

When
April 16, 8:20 PM AST to 9:30 PM AST
Where
Vega Alta County, 1.86 mi SW of Vega Alta to 1.87 mi SW of Vega Alta
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.399, -66.347

Emergency management reported that Rio Cibuco was out of its banks and it |was flooding PR-620 in Sector Fatima. It was also reported that soon could be |flooding PR-647 by Sector Ojo de Agua.

Flash Flood, Naranjito

When
April 17, 7:30 PM AST to 8:30 PM AST
Where
Naranjito County, 1.99 mi NW of Naranjito to 1.91 mi NW of Naranjito
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.301, -66.250

Emergency management reported that several areas in the main town of Naranjito were flooded, close to where the old Williams Pizza was located. This was due to the river being out of its banks.

Flash Flood, Naranjito

When
April 17, 8:00 PM AST to 9:00 PM AST
Where
Naranjito County, 2.92 mi W of Naranjito to 2.9 mi W of Naranjito
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.277, -66.274

Emergency management reported that areas close to PR-152, close to Cabana de Juan, was impassable due to the river being out of its banks. They had to completely close the |road.

Flood, Vega Alta

When
April 18, 2:12 AM AST to 4:15 AM AST
Where
Vega Alta County, 0.95 mi NW of Vega Alta to 1.16 mi NW of Vega Alta
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.430, -66.340

Emergency manager reported flooding at PR-690 and PR-676 in Barrio Bajuras, Vega Alta.

Flood, Manati

When
April 18, 3:20 AM AST to 4:20 AM AST
Where
Manati County, 3.25 mi WNW of Manati to 2.88 mi WNW of Manati
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
18.429, -66.529

USGS Sensor displayed Rio Grande de Manati flowing out of it's banks. Rio Grande de Manati likely to be overflowed over PR-2 at 3am.

Flash Flood, Cayey

When
April 18, 3:23 PM AST to 4:30 PM AST
Where
Cayey County, 3.25 mi NW of Cayey
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
18.131, -66.168

Flash flooding was reported at Evaristo Hernandez St. No reported vehicles flooded.

Flash Flood, Barranquitas

When
April 18, 4:08 PM AST to 5:30 PM AST
Where
Barranquitas County, 1.05 mi SW of Barranquitas to 1.1 mi SW of Barranquitas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
18.191, -66.333

Rio de Barranquitas was reported out of its banks and covering the bridge at PR-156, making it impassable.

Flash Flood, Penuelas

When
April 18, 4:32 PM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Penuelas County, 0.5 mi NNW of Penuelas to 0.5 mi NNE of Penuelas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$6,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
18.056, -66.723

The 911 Call Center reported flash flooding and Guayanes river out of its banks at Juan Rodriguez St. near the Arts and Culture Center. There was 1 person trapped & injured inside a car.

Flash Flood, Barranquitas

When
April 18, 4:57 PM AST to 7:00 PM AST
Where
Barranquitas County, 1.1 mi SE of Barranquitas to 1.17 mi SE of Barranquitas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$6,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
18.188, -66.310

The 911 Call Center reported flash flooding at Meliton Perelez St. near the Barranquitas River. There was 1 person trapped inside a flooded residence.

Debris Flow, Corozal

When
April 18, 6:12 PM AST to 7:30 PM AST
Where
Corozal County, 1.85 mi SE of Corozal to 1.91 mi SE of Corozal
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.280, -66.301

Emergency manager reported a landslide at PR-503 Km 5.6 at Barrio Blancos Sector Febu. Road is closed.

Debris Flow, Corozal

When
April 18, 6:15 PM AST to 6:25 PM AST
Where
Corozal County, 3.03 mi S of Corozal to 3.05 mi S of Corozal
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.257, -66.314

Emergency manager reported a landslide at PR-802 at the bridge in Barrio Mana.

Flood, Vega Alta

When
April 18, 8:24 PM AST to 10:00 PM AST
Where
Vega Alta County, 1.57 mi SSW of Vega Alta to 1.57 mi SW of Vega Alta
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.401, -66.343

Emergency Managers reported Rio Cibuco out of its banks and flooding a bridge (PR-620) near a local church in Sector Fatima, Vega Alta.

Flash Flood, Las Piedras

When
April 19, 3:01 PM AST to 4:00 PM AST
Where
Las Piedras County, 2.84 mi W of Las Piedras to 2.79 mi WNW of Las Piedras
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
18.187, -65.893

Broadcast media reported flash flood at PR-30 at Exit 14 from Juncos to Las Piedras.

Flash Flood, Yauco

When
April 19, 3:19 PM AST to 5:00 PM AST
Where
Yauco County, 2.58 mi S of Yauco to 2.84 mi S of Yauco
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
18.033, -66.853

The 911 Call Center reported a flooded residence at Calle Prolongacion 25 de Julio in front of Urban Park and near Pavia Hospital.

Debris Flow, Salinas

When
April 19, 5:10 PM AST to 5:20 PM AST
Where
Salinas County, 6.72 mi NNE of Salinas to 6.73 mi NNE of Salinas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
18.093, -66.219

The 911 Call Center reported a landslide at PR-1 near La Curva del Arbol. No trapped cars or people were reported.

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.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Debris Flow
A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, April 2024

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1176079, 1176109, 1176111, 1176093, 1176096, 1176100, 1176101, 1176114, 1176117, 1176120, 1176128, 1176125, 1176332, 1176333, 1176343, 1176348, 1176349, 1176350, 1176127, 1176123, 1176122, 1176352.