A landslide was reported on May 16th in Aguadilla. Heavy rainfall and accumulations of up to 3 inches of rain were reported over western Puerto Rico with the afternoon convective development.
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.
A landslide was reported on May 16th in Aguadilla. Heavy rainfall and accumulations of up to 3 inches of rain were reported over western Puerto Rico with the afternoon convective development.
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 16, 2:43 PM AST, 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, BEACH FORECAST... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 * Showers and isolated t-storms will continue across interior to W-NW PR and downwind of El Yunque and the local islands this afternoon. * Above-normal temperatures will persist across the region, with heat indices reaching the upper 90s to low 100s during peak afternoon hours, especially across urban and coastal areas. * An upper-level trough will approach the islands tomorrow. This can increase the frequency of showers and isolated t-storms. * A moderate risk of rip currents will persist along most beaches of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the USVI through much of the forecast period. * Low concentrations of Saharan dust particles are over the region, gradually decreasing Sunday afternoon. && .Short Term(This evening through Monday)... Issued at 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 Variable weather conditions prevailed today as abundant moisture continued to move over the region. Showers affected portions of eastern Puerto Rico and the San Juan metropolitan area through late morning, though Doppler radar estimated minimal rainfall accumulations. By early afternoon, showers developed and expanded across the interior, spreading toward the north-central and northwestern portions of Puerto Rico. Radar and satellite imagery also detected a few thunderstorms across these areas, with rainfall accumulations reaching up to 3 inches in northern San Sebastian and southern Quebradillas and Isabela. Warm temperatures were observed across the region, particularly throughout the islands urban and coastal areas. Maximum temperatures reached the upper 80s to low 90s in these sectors, and ranged from the low to mid-80s in the interior. Winds prevailed from the east at 15 to 20 mph, with higher gusts and sea breeze variations. For the rest of the day, showers and isolated thunderstorms will persist across northwestern and north-central Puerto Rico. Additional rainfall accumulations could lead to minor urban and small stream flooding, as well as quick river rises. Similar conditions are expected on Sunday as a mid-level ridge continues to weaken and an upper-level trough approaches from the west. This trough will amplify and increase instability across the region, especially tomorrow through late Tuesday. As instability rises, moisture levels will also increase. Combined with daytime heating and local effects, this will help to enhance active afternoons, leading to showers and isolated thunderstorms across the interior and western to northwestern Puerto Rico. Convection is also expected downwind of El Yunque, and from the U.S. Virgin Islands toward eastern Puerto Rico. The approaching upper- level trough will continue to fuel this afternoon convection daily. Meanwhile, low concentrations of Saharan dust particles will peak today and late tonight—prompting occasionally hazy skies—before gradually decreasing tomorrow morning. Despite the expected shower activity, warm to hot temperatures will persist through early next week, potentially leading to elevated heat indices across urban and coastal areas. Residents and visitors are urged to stay hydrated, seek shade, and monitor local conditions to ensure safety during peak heating hours. && .Long Term(Tuesday through Saturday)... Issued at 452 AM AST Sat May 16 2026 A gradual transition toward a wetter and somewhat more unstable weather pattern is expected across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the latter half of the upcoming workweek. Surface high pressure over the western Atlantic will maintain moderate to locally fresh easterly to east-southeasterly winds, with occasional stronger and gusty periods. Early in the week, conditions should remain relatively quiet overall, with intermittent patches of moisture promoting passing showers across eastern Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, followed by isolated afternoon convection across western Puerto Rico. Rainfall coverage should generally remain more dry than wet, especially across southern and eastern Puerto Rico, which may continue to favor ongoing drought concerns. At upper levels, a deep trough lingering over the western Atlantic is forecast to gradually sink farther south late in the workweek, supporting enhanced divergence aloft, cooling mid-level temperatures, and a less dry environment across the region. However, moisture continuity through the vertical column still appears somewhat inconsistent, meaning moisture depth and persistence will largely determine daily shower and thunderstorm coverage. By late week, increasing moisture and stronger diurnal heating should support more frequent afternoon showers and thunderstorms across interior and western Puerto Rico, with flooding concerns gradually increasing. Heat concerns will continue through the period, although slightly cooler conditions may develop at times due to increased cloud cover and rainfall activity. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 Mainly VFR conds expected to continue across all TAF sites during the next 24 hrs. SHRA/TSRA will continue to develop in the afternoon causing brief MVFR/IFR conds particularly at TJBQ thru 16/22Z. E winds btw 12-16 kt will continue thru 16/22-23Z, with sea breeze variations and higher gusts. Winds are expected to decrease to 5 kt or less thru 17/14Z. && .MARINE... Issued at 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 A series of broad surface high pressures over the Atlantic will continue to promote moderate to fresh east to southeast winds across the regional waters, becoming more easterly early next week. These breezy conditions will maintain choppy seas, particularly across the offshore and exposed Atlantic and Caribbean waters. Seas are forecast to remain between 4 and 6 feet. Afternoon and early evening isolated thunderstorms can be expected each day across the western waters of Puerto Rico. && .BEACH FORECAST... Issued at 243 PM AST Sat May 16 2026 Tonight, there is a moderate risk of rip currents across the northern, eastern, and southern beaches of Puerto Rico, as well as across Vieques, Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This means life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zones, and beachgoers should exercise caution when entering these beaches. Through the rest of the weekend and into early next week, breezy winds will result in similar conditions continuing. Check the forecast before entering the water. For additional information and location-specific rip current details, visit weather.gov/beach/sju. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...GRS LONG TERM...ICP MARINE/BEACH...YZR
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service San Juan PR 1104 AM AST Sat May 16 2026 PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-161715- San Juan and Vicinity-Northeast-Southeast-Eastern Interior- North Central-Central Interior-Ponce and Vicinity-Northwest- Western Interior-Mayaguez and Vicinity-Southwest-Culebra-Vieques- St.Thomas...St. John...and Adjacent Islands-St Croix- 1104 AM AST Sat May 16 2026 ...NO TSUNAMI THREAT FROM A REGIONAL EARTHQUAKE... According to PTWC an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 occurred at 17.6 NORTH 61.0 WEST at 1050 AM AST May 16 2026 AST. Based on location and magnitude the earthquake was not sufficient to generate a tsunami damaging to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes. Y. Zayas
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
A minor landslide was reported near KM 2.4 in road 443 Bo. Caimital Bajo.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, May 2026
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: 1344092.