Puerto Rico, 2026

Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, April 12 to 15, 2026

April 12 to 15, 2026 · NWS SJU · 13 events in 7 counties and zones

The combination of an approaching front, a developing pre-frontal trough, and a mid-to upper-level trough promoted a moist and unstable weather pattern across the |region. This resulted in flooding, landslides, flash flooding and hail from April 12th to 15th.

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
$17,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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.

The combination of an approaching front, a developing pre-frontal trough, and a mid-to upper-level trough promoted a moist and unstable weather pattern across the |region. This resulted in flooding, landslides, flash flooding and hail from April 12th to 15th.

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 12, 1:10 PM AST, 3 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 12, 1:10 PM AST, 3 hours 6 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 12, 1:56 PM AST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 12, 2:42 PM AST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
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The radar

The San Juan radar (TJUA), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 debris flow, 4 flood, 1 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Hormigueros

When
April 12, 4:16 PM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Hormigueros County, 0.5 mi SSW of Hormigueros to 0.59 mi SSW of Hormigueros
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.124, -67.124

A car was stranded due to flooding waters at the intersection of PR-114 and PR-319, near km 1.5.

Debris Flow, San Sebastian

When
April 13, 7:49 AM AST to 9:30 AM AST
Where
San Sebastian County, 4.61 mi NE of San Sebastian to 4.62 mi NE of San Sebastian
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
18.374, -66.929

Calle Casa del Biologo near PR-119 in Bo Aibonito Beltral in San Sebastian affected by landslide due to previous rainfall activity.

Flash Flood, Hormigueros

When
April 13, 12:56 PM AST to 1:36 PM AST
Where
Hormigueros County, 0.53 mi ENE of Hormigueros to 0.55 mi ENE of Hormigueros
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.133, -67.112

Road PR-2 km 164.7 was impassable due to flash flooding. At 1:36 PM, Emergency managers reported that they reopened the road.

Flood, Cabo Rojo

When
April 13, 1:01 PM AST to 3:00 PM AST
Where
Cabo Rojo County, 4.26 mi N of Cabo Rojo to 4.35 mi N of Cabo Rojo
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
18.091, -67.134

Social media reports indicated road PR-103 near Iglesia Biblica Bautista de Cabo Rojo was flooded and several cars were stranded.

Flood, Penuelas

When
April 13, 1:10 PM AST to 3:30 PM AST
Where
Penuelas County, 2.62 mi NNW of Penuelas to 2.63 mi NNW of Penuelas
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
18.086, -66.732

A social media video showed Puente El Coqui in Sector Maldonado Barrio Jaguas in Penuelas impassable due to Rio Jaguas (Guayanes).

Debris Flow, Ponce

When
April 13, 3:06 PM AST to 5:00 PM AST
Where
Ponce County, 1.91 mi ESE of Ponce to 1.92 mi ESE of Ponce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.044, -66.592

A landslide was reported at PR-505 in front of Panaderia Glenview in Urb. Glenview Gardens. The road remains impassable and closed.

Debris Flow, Ponce

When
April 13, 4:02 PM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Ponce County, 1.45 mi NE of Ponce to 1.48 mi NE of Ponce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.066, -66.606

Landslide affecting vehicle and property, with a family uncommunicated, near PR-505 km 4.5 in Barrio La Yuca. The road was partially closed due to the landslide.

Debris Flow, San German

When
April 13, 7:15 PM AST to 9:30 PM AST
Where
San German County, 4.54 mi NW of San German
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
18.151, -67.074

San Germans Mayor reported large rocks obstructing the road due to a landslide at PR-330 km 4.5 in Bo. Duey Bajo.

Debris Flow, Ponce

When
April 13, 7:55 PM AST to 11:00 PM AST
Where
Ponce County, 4.67 mi NNE of Ponce to 4.68 mi NNE of Ponce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.116, -66.603

Emergency manager reported a landslide at PR-139 (Luis Antonio Wito Morales Crespo St.) km 14.9 in Bo. Maraguez.

Flood, Cabo Rojo

When
April 13, 9:23 PM AST to 11:00 PM AST
Where
Cabo Rojo County, 6.94 mi N of Cabo Rojo to 6.7 mi N of Cabo Rojo
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.130, -67.140

Emergency managers reported river flooding impacting PR-114 near the intersection of PR-103, where the Rio Guanajibo & Rio Rosario converge. Several vehicles, approximately 15 cars, were stranded in floodwaters. At 9:45 PM AST, the USGS HORP4 gauge on the Rio Guanajibo, located downstream of this area, measured 20.06 feet, which is above flood stage.

Debris Flow, Ponce

When
April 14, 9:00 PM AST to 11:00 PM AST
Where
Ponce County, 2.88 mi WSW of Ponce to 2.87 mi WSW of Ponce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.032, -66.659

Emergency managers reported a landslide that damaged a house’s patio wall adjacent to PR-132 in Urb. Casamia, Barrio Canas, Ponce. Radar estimates indicate that approximately 2 to 2.5 inches of rain fell that afternoon in that area.

Hail, Arecibo

When
April 15, 12:50 PM AST to 1:00 PM AST
Where
Arecibo County, 6.29 mi W of Arecibo
Measured
0.25 in hail
Property damage
$10
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
18.429, -66.766

Pea-size hail was reported in Hacienda Toledo in Arecibo.

Debris Flow, Ponce

When
April 15, 5:00 PM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Ponce County, 2.9 mi WSW of Ponce to 2.88 mi WSW of Ponce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
18.031, -66.659

Emergency manager reported a fallen retaining wall due to saturated soils from previous rains at the entrance of Urb. Casamia in PR-132, Bo. Canas.

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.
Debris Flow
A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.
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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, April 2026

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1331603, 1331797, 1331596, 1331607, 1331793, 1331799, 1331802, 1331803, 1331804, 1331612, 1331800, 1331791, 1332946.