High Surf in Puerto Rico

Events

67

Deaths

26

Injuries

18

Damage

$4.7 million

• Rip Currents and High Surf in Puerto Rico, August 24, 20253 deaths · 5 eventsA long period northerly swell from the then distant TC Erin and AL90 promoted life-threatening rip currents, rough surf conditions, and Small Craft Advisory conditions during the penultimate weekend of August.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 27 to 29, 20092 deaths · 6 injured · $15,000 · 5 eventsA deep and slow moving low pressure system across the north central Atlantic generated large swells which began affecting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands late in the day on Saturday December 26th, 2009.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 1 to 3, 20082 deaths · $73,000 · 20 eventsThe 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.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, February 9 to 11, 20262 deaths · 1 injured · $93,000 · 3 eventsA large, long-period northwest to northerly swell impacted the Atlantic waters and local passages of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from February 9 through February 11, 2026.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, October 26, 20042 deaths · 1 eventTwo persons drowned in the Piñones, Vacia Talega Beach overtaken by strong undertow.
• Coastal Flood and Rip Current in Puerto Rico, November 16 to 17, 20241 death · $30,000 · 4 eventsA long period northerly swell created hazardous coastal conditions along the north-facing beaches of PR and the US Virgin Islands during the third weekend of November. The exposed Atlantic coastline were impacted by breaking waves between 8 and 15 feet.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, April 28 to 29, 20131 death · 3 injured · 1 eventLarge long period northeast swells affected the north coast of Puerto Rico with swells between 7 to 9 feet with periods of 15 to 17 seconds.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, September 3 to 4, 20031 death · $30,000 · 2 eventsLong period swells generated by Hurricane Fabian combined with unusually high tides to produce large breaking waves that affected the north...northwest and east coastal areas of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, September 17, 20101 death · 1 injured · 2 eventsDangerous long period northeast and then north swells generated by Hurricane Igor produced large breaking waves, dangerous surf, and some coastal flooding across Puerto Rico.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, November 9, 20021 death · 1 injured · 1 eventHigh seas overturned a fisherman's boat at the Vega Alta Coast. One of the occupants drowned while the other received injuries as he hit the reef.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, January 13 to 16, 20131 death · 2 eventsA Deep area of low pressure located over the North Central Atlantic generated very large swells that arrived into the Atlantic Coastlines of Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands.
• Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, October 19 to 20, 20251 death · $2,000 · 2 eventsA long-period northerly swell produced hazardous breaking waves along the north-facing beaches of Puerto Rico.
• Rip Current and High Surf in Puerto Rico, April 2 to 4, 20261 death · 2 eventsHigh surf conditions led to an incident on April 2, 2026, at Poza Las Mujeres Beach in Manati, Puerto Rico.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, April 21, 19971 death · 1 eventA person was dragged by the undercurrent in the Colorada sector of the Seven Seas beach in Fajardo and was reported missing. Three other tourists who were snorkeling were rescued by authorities after they were carried away by the strong currents.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, March 10, 20011 death · 1 eventA woman drowned in Pinones beach when strong waves pulled her out to the sea.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, July 4, 20011 death · 1 eventA person on board in an inflatable boat drowned when rough seas turned over the boat near shore. Two of its occupants were able to swim to shore.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, March 22, 20021 death · 1 eventThree people were on the reef away from the shore when large breaking waves swept them away. A 16 year old man drowned while the others were rescued.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 30, 20041 death · 1 eventTwo swimmers were overtaken by a wave while swimming at the Pinones Beach, Monte Grande sector. One of them was rescued, the other drowned.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, January 12, 20061 death · 1 eventA 17 year old surfer drowned as he was swept by rip currents at Barrio Islote in Arecibo.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, February 12, 20101 death · 1 eventVigorous winter storm over the Northeastern United States produced gale force winds off the South Carolina and Georgia coast that added to a developing fetch that was headed towards the Northeast Caribbean.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 21 to 25, 20121 death · 1 eventLarge, long period north swells affected the Atlantic coastal waters and the caribbean passages. These swell resulted in rough and hazardous marine conditions between December 23-25. One surfer drowned due to strong rip current and dangerous surf conditions.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, April 4 to 6, 20121 death · 1 eventNorth swells affected the Atlantic coastline producing significant breaking wave action between 8 to 12 feet.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, January 1 to 4, 20131 death · 1 eventLarge long period north-northwest swells affected the Atlantic coastline of Puerto Rico,Culebra and the northern Virgin Islands. These swells produced large breaking waves and frequent rip currents, resulting in dangerous surf conditions.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, November 11, 20151 death · 1 eventStrong trade winds produced dangerous marine conditions across the Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico.
• High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 14, 20231 death · 1 eventLife-threatening rip currents due to rough surf and large breaking waves were affecting northern and eastern Puerto Rico, Culebra and the northern USVI. Nearshore buoys indicated breaking waves between 9 to 11 feet during the morning of Dec 13th.

High Surf everywhereEvery kind of event in Puerto Rico

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.