Flash Flood · Puerto Rico

A very serious flooding was reported at Ave. Amerito Estrada Rivera, near the office of Dr. Elisamuel Rivera Rivera. Flood waters were entering the houses and people were trapped inside. Further reports from the news showed that the flooding was widespread, affecting houses, cars, and other buildings.

Saturated 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. With increased instability across the Northeast Caribbean, and as a surface high pressure migrated from the western to central Atlantic, moisture was pooled into the region, with total precipitable water values well above the climatological value for these dates. Most of the USGS monitored rivers showed above normal to high levels.

Each day the amount of rainfall was locally significant. In fact, rescues were needed in San Sebastin, and Yauco. The rivers went out of their banks in Aasco, Utuado, Orocovis, Vega Baja, Corozal, Arecibo, San Germn, Hormigueros, Mayagez, San Juan, Ponce, Ciales, Manat, and many others without a river gage. At the end of the event, a significant portion of the interior and western Puerto Rico collected over 10', with isolated amounts surpassing 14. Areas in the east collected more than 5', all of this in only a couple of days. An astonishing amount of 32 flash flood warnings were issued during this short period of time, with 115 Local Storm Reports created as well.