During the second week of May, a nearby deep-layered trough and additional rainfall over saturated soils produced localized flash flooding from May 7th to the 11th.
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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.
During the second week of May, a nearby deep-layered trough and additional rainfall over saturated soils produced localized flash flooding from May 7th to the 11th.
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 May 7, 1:48 PM AST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 148 PM AST Wed May 7 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * Despite the expected drier and more stable conditions over the next few days, afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms remain likely and could still lead to localized flooding impacts. * Strengthening winds over the weekend into early next week will elevate the risk of life-threatening rip currents for beachgoers and create rough seas for small craft. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Friday... Radar and satellite analysis showed fair conditions across the region this morning and early this afternoon. Temperatures have reached the mid to upper 80s, accompanied by light and variable winds, primarily influenced by the sea breeze. With drier air and more stable conditions moving in, the forecast has been adjusted. While flooding is still possible with any significant rainfall, impacts will be more localized. As the upper-level trough shifts eastward, a drier and more stable air mass will begin to move over the region. This will lead to a decrease in atmospheric moisture, with precipitable water values dropping to around 1.3 to 1.4 inches on Thursday, below normal for this time of year, before gradually increasing to about 1.7 to 1.8 inches by Friday night. At the same time, mid-level warming and drier air above the 700 mb level will limit the potential for storm development. Despite the lack of a strong trade wind inversion, overall instability will be low. However, afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms will still be supported by lingering moisture, along with daytime heating and local effects. These will likely be isolated, brief, and relatively weak, but any heavier downpours could still lead to localized flooding, especially in areas with saturated soils. Temperatures on Thursday are expected to be near or slightly below average, providing a brief reprieve from the usual May heat. By the end of the week, temperatures will likely return to near- or slightly above-normal levels. Winds will remain light, generally under 15 mph, with calm to light and variable conditions overnight. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday... From previous discussion...issued at 457 AM AST Wed May 7 2025 A mid-level high-pressure system will build over the islands on Saturday, leading to dry air and subsidence aloft. This will limit the potential for widespread rain each day. However, the available low-level tropical moisture, combined with easterly winds, will still result in periods of showers across the windward areas in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This activity affecting the windward sections could be enhanced by low-level convergence. The sea breeze, local effects, and daily heating will drive the afternoon convection over the interior and western Puerto Rico. Winds will pick up over the weekend as a surface high-pressure builds across the Central Atlantic, tightening the local pressure gradient. This change in weather patterns will increase the typical passing showers in the windward areas, which could extend further inland across Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands due to the increasing winds. && .AVIATION... (18z TAFs) Mostly VFR conds for all terminals. However, afternoon convc will bring -RA/+RA with VCTS at JPS and JBQ after 07/18z, reducing CIGs and VIS, and likely brief MVFR conds. NE winds btw 9-12 kt, becoming light and VRB after 07/23z. Winds from the E-NE will increase once again by 08/13-08/14z btw 10 - 13 kt. && .MARINE... A broad surface high pressure extending into the Central Atlantic, in combination with an induced surface trough northeast of the region, will result in light to gentle through the end of the workweek. Winds will increase by the end of the weekend as the surface high pressure builds across the Atlantic. Mariners can expect seas between 2 to 4 feet, occasionally 5 feet, for the next several days. Occasional thunderstorms are likely across the regional waters, especially in the afternoon, resulting in dangerous conditions for mariners. && .BEACH FORECAST... Beachgoers can expect a low risk of rip currents at local beaches throughout the workweek. However, life-threatening rip currents often occur near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. The risk of rip currents will increase to moderate from Saturday onward. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && DAY SHIFT CREW...ICP/MNG
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service San Juan PR 420 AM AST Wed May 7 2025 AMZ711>745-PRZ001>013-080830- 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- 420 AM AST Wed May 7 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Puerto Rico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight .Lightning...Isolated thunderstorms, particularly across Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. Stay alert and be prepared to take shelter if storms develop. .Excessive Rainfall...Life-threatening flash flooding, which may enter structures and cut off neighborhoods, especially in flood- prone areas across central Puerto Rico. Elsewhere, prepare for ponding of water on roads and in poorly drained areas, and flooding in urban areas, roads, small streams, and washes. Stay alert for rising water. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Showers and thunderstorm development is expected each afternoon across portions of central and western Puerto Rico. The flood threat will be limited from Thursday into early next week as a drier airmass moves into the region. A moderate or high rip current risk will return across the north facing beaches of the islands by early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. AMZ716-726-VIZ001-002-080830- St. Thomas St. John adjacent Islands-St Croix- Nearshore Atlantic and adjacent Caribbean Coastal Waters- 420 AM AST Wed May 7 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of USVI. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight .Lightning...Isolated thunderstorms, particularly across the U.S. Virgin Islands. Stay alert and be prepared to take shelter if storms develop. .Excessive Rainfall...Ponding of water in roads and poorly drained areas, particularly across the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is a low chance of localized urban and small streams flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorm development is expected each afternoon, mainly across the surrounding waters. A drier airmass will move into the islands from Thursday onwards, limiting the development of showers. A moderate to high rip current risk will return by early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:57 UTC.
8 flash flood, 4 flood, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media reported flash flooding due to a swollen river at Sector Coli, Orocovis, at around 3 pm. One image showed two vehicles stranded on both sides of an impassable low-level bridge in the area.
Water over the bridge due to flood waters from Rio Jajome in PR-708 km 8.7.
Broadcast media published pictures of a funnel cloud observed from Naguabo at around 1806 local time. A streamer was moving in from Vieques into Humacao at this time.
Calle Luis Mojica Valentin in condominio El Senorial in Mayaguez was reported as flooded.
Emergency managers reported flooding in calle Luis Mojica Valentin. The floodwaters were entering one vehicle.
Calle Nenadich was flooded along the residential Roosevelt.
Flood waters were affecting calle Enrique Simon, intersecting with calle Betances.
Flooded road reported at barrio Candelaria, Avenida El Plantio, Calle Laurel.
Several areas of PR 865 in Barrio Campanilla in Toa Baja were reported as partially closed.
Emergency managers reported two people trapped in Gozalandia waterfalls due to a water surge.
Emergency management reported a car with a person stranded at Cuesta del Guana in Barrio Campanillas.
Emergency management reported a flood at urbanizacion La Fuente.
Flooding affected 8 houses along Calle Girasol.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, May 2025
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: 1268932, 1268933, 1268934, 1268935, 1268936, 1268937, 1268938, 1268939, 1268940, 1268941, 1268942, 1268943, 1268944.