Flood in Puerto Rico
Every flood event the National Weather Service has filed in Puerto Rico, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
The most significant on the map
The most significant flood episodes in Puerto Rico.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 1,671
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 2
- Damage
- $72 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, September 21 to 23, 2008During the three day period of September 21-23, 2008, parts of Puerto Rico suffered from one of the most catastrophic flooding events of the season to date. The flooding affected many municipalities island wide.
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, November 10 to 15, 2003Heavy rains affected Puerto Rico during the week of November 10-15, leading to widespread flash flooding, and numerous mud, land and rock slides.
- Flood in Puerto Rico, November 12 to 15, 2004A persistent upper trough to the west of Puerto Rico and a extremely moist low level air mass, brought numerous showers during the period from November 12-15.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, September 17 to 21, 2022Hurricane Fiona made landfall on Sunday the 18th around 3:20 PM AST near Punta Toc n in southwestern Puerto Rico. Strong, gusty winds accompanied much of the stronger convection embedded within the hurricane.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, October 25 to 28, 2007A 1006 millibar low pressure area centered southwest of the Mona passage and its associated bands of clouds, showers and thunderstorms affected Puerto Rico during the period from October 25-29.
- Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 1 to 3, 2008The extreme outer bands of Tropical Storm Hanna impacted Puerto Rio during the first week of September. Hanna's circulation induced a low level flow of south to southwest winds that pushed showers and thunderstorms from the Caribbean waters northward into the island.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, May 6 to 10, 2024Saturated soils from the previous rainfall events enhanced the risk of flash and river flooding, as another mid to upper-level trough lingered across the region.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Puerto Rico, May 28 to 29, 2010Deep moisture, combined with favorable atmospheric conditions, local effects and a low level trough to the north of Puerto Rico, brought widespread flooding rains across Puerto Rico during the last few days of the month.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, May 1 to 5, 2025Unstable and wet weather conditions were anticipated in early May due to a combination of abundant tropical moisture and a series of upper-level troughs moving over the region.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, April 26 to 30, 2025From April 26 through 30, a moist and unstable weather pattern affected Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The episode began as deep tropical moisture moved into the region from the southeast, interacting with deep-layer troughs and supportive jet dynamics aloft.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 25 to 26, 2012Showers and thunderstorms associated with the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy were strong enough to produce moderate to major flooding across the Guayanilla and Caguas area between October 25th and October 27th.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, November 16 to 17, 2024By the 16th, moisture remained from a front that passed Puerto Rico and the U.S. |Virgin Islands, and was located southeast of them. A second front was approaching the area and brought additional rain late on the 16th and the 17th.
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, March 7 to 9, 2001A strong low pressure system north of the area caused large northwest swells to move across the coastal waters. These swells began to arrive on Wednesday night and continued into Friday morning.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 24 to 27, 2025The flooding threat increased as a robust tropical wave moved across the region. This wave combined with instability associated with an upper-level trough. As the wave departed, tropical moisture continued to flux into Puerto Rico.
- Tropical Storm and Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, August 21 to 23, 2011Irene was a quite large and impressive tropical wave during most of its journey across the Atlantic Ocean during the week of August 14-20, 2011.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, May 5 to 7, 2012Upper level trough combined with ample low level moisture to produce scattered to numerous showers with thunderstorms across Puerto Rico.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 5 to 9, 2025Tropical moisture associated with a tropical wave and other trade wind perturbations, along with an upper-level trough resulted in the formation of strong showers and thunderstorms.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, November 3 to 7, 2022A very wet and unsettled pattern affected the islands on the first weekend of November. The trough was on the most favorable position for shower development on November 4th, increasing instability aloft. A surface low was induced, causing winds to shift from the south.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, December 24 to 25, 2009December 24th and December 25th stood out because they were the wettest days of the month which in turn evolved into the most hydrologically active period across the region. By the evening of December 24th, a Flood Watch was issued for most of Puerto Rico and the U.S.
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 9 to 13, 2005During the period from October 9th through October 13th 2005, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were affected by a heavy rainfall event and the associated flooding.
- Flooding and Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, August 30 to 31, 2025A tropical wave moving south of the islands, moisture, local effects, excessive diurnal heating, and sea breeze variations, promoted the formation of showers and thunderstorms over the islands during the last two days of the month.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, August 10, 2010A moist southeast flow combined with daytime heating and a weak upper level trough to produce scattered to numerous showers with strong thunderstorms across Puerto Rico.
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Puerto Rico, January 22, 2009A cold front was extending from the West Central Atlantic south southwest through the Mona Passage. Ahead of the front, low level wind flow and moisture posed a threat of slow moving rain cells and flash flood potential.
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, August 18, 2018Locally and diurnally induced shower and thunderstorm activity developed over interior and southwestern portions of Puerto Rico during the afternoon hours.
- Flood in Puerto Rico, April 12, 2018Low level moisture combined with daytime heating and orographic effects to produce scattered to locally numerous showers across the western interior and northwest sections of Puerto Rico. Heavy rainfall led to rapid rises in small stream and rivers across the area.
More
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 2026-09-24.