Flash Flood — Humacao, Puerto Rico

2024-10-31 · near Humacao, Humacao, Puerto Rico

$3K

Property damage

Event narrative

Emergency managers reported that 29 students from Rufino Vivo Elementary School, located near intersection between Calle Dufresne and Avenida Cruz Ortis Estela, were taken to a second floor by the school's director due to rapidly increasing flood waters.

Wider weather episode

A series of cold fronts and a polar trough increased moisture and instability across the region for the last three days of October. Moisture levels went well above the climatological value, leading to a significant increase in showers and thunderstorms. Showers were very numerous, with rainfall accumulations surpassing 8 inches in sectors of northeastern and southeastern Puerto Rico. Soils were saturated, and rivers were running very high, triggering the issuance of a Flood Watch. With the excessive rainfall, multiple flash flooding events and mudslides unfolded.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (18.1521, -65.8240)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1216876. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.