Lightning in Puerto Rico

Events

60

Deaths

9

Injuries

17

Damage

$489,000

• Flash Flooding and Flood in Puerto Rico, May 28 to 29, 20102 deaths · 1 injured · $30,000 · 12 eventsDeep 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.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 4, 20222 deaths · 3 injured · 1 eventA lightning strike killed two people in a jetski near Cayo Matias just off the coastal waters of Salinas. Hurricane Earl was moving about 100 miles north-northeast of the islands.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, May 1 to 5, 20251 death · 1 injured · $523,000 · 79 eventsUnstable 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.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 26, 20011 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA person was killed by lightning in Cabo Rojo. He was on the roof of a house preparing a concrete topping mixture. Another construction worker was affected by a side lobe.
• Flooding and Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, August 30 to 31, 20251 death · $12,000 · 3 eventsA 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.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 23, 20001 death · 1 eventLightning struck a person causing his death while he was working outdoors feeding shrimps in a shrimp farm.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 22, 20011 death · 1 eventA person was killed by lightning while jogging at the old Ramey Base in Aguadilla.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, May 11, 20061 death · 1 eventA 30 year old man died after being struck by lightning at Barrio Islote in the Arecibo municipality.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, June 27, 20091 death · 1 eventAfternoon showers and thunderstorms developed over the northwest section of Puerto Rico and produced heavy rain over the Aguadilla and Moca area.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 5, 20171 death · 1 eventFlash flood watch in effect due to the proximity of Hurricane Irma. Showers, thunderstorms, very strong winds were expected.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, July 10, 2006$605,000 · 3 eventsTropical wave moved across Puerto Rico and interacted with upper trough across Hispaniola to produce scattered to numerous showers and locally heavy rainfall accumulations. By 11 A.M. the U.S.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, May 17 to 20, 2025$205,000 · 25 eventsA strong upper-level trough brought an unsettled weather pattern, heightening the risk of excessive rainfall across the islands from May 17th to the 20th.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flow in Puerto Rico, August 16 to 18, 2025$104,000 · 33 eventsMajor Hurricane Erin moved northeast and north of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Erin's Outer Bands and then Feeder Bands still affected the islands, producing strong thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rains across the islands.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, October 15, 2003$300,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a power substation in Guaynabo causing a large fire and leaving 5 thousand people without electricity.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Puerto Rico, July 18, 2013$58,000 · 28 eventsA very strong Tropical Wave moved over Puerto Rico during July 18, 2013. This wave brought deep topical moisture from the Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ) through the area.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 8 to 10, 2024$26,000 · 21 eventsAn upper level trough lingered in the region, promoting unsettled weather conditions. Additionally, a tropical wave approached, bringing plenty of moisture in the region.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 19 to 22, 2024$28,000 · 0.25 in hail · 19 eventsThe proximity of an upper level trough, along with an area of enhanced moisture, very light winds and strong heating resulted in explosive convection developing over Puerto Rico. The thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall, lightning, gusty winds, and even hail.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, September 29, 2019$48,000 · 3 eventsShowers and thunderstorms developed across PR and USVI, due to a tropical wave moving across the area.
• Lightning Strikes in Puerto Rico, July 27, 20253 injured · $5,000 · 2 eventsA tropical wave moving over the region on July 27th triggered frequent bands of passing showers over the Anegada Passage, Caribbean, and Atlantic waters during the early morning hours.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, May 27, 20243 injured · 1 eventAfternoon convection on May 27th over northwestern Puerto Rico produced cloud-to-ground lightning over Isabela, injuring three individuals.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, September 18 to 22, 20251 injured · $8,000 · 11 eventsA deep tropical moisture surge contributed to the generation of showers and thunderstorms. As rain accumulated, soil became saturated, and flooding and landslides were registered. Also, wind and lightning damage was also observed within the thunderstorms.
• Lightning Strike in Puerto Rico, August 31, 19992 injured · 1 eventLighting struck a 16-year old while he was at the beach causing severe burns in his abdominal area. Another person nearby suffered mild burns.
• Flood and Damaging Winds in Puerto Rico, October 5 to 9, 20251 injured · $4,000 · 6 eventsAn upper-level trough with a period of light winds contributed to the development of strong thunderstorms across PR between October 5 and 9.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Puerto Rico, July 10, 2022$5,000 · 13 eventsAn induced surface trough and a tropical wave approaches the islands. At the same time, an upper level trough dug from the northeast, providing instability aloft.
• Flash Flood and Flood in Puerto Rico, October 1 to 5, 2023$16,000 · 3 eventsOuter bands from Tropical Storm Philippe, which passed northeast of the islands resulted in heavy rain, river rises, lightning strikes and flooding across various sectors of the islands.

Lightning 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.