High Surf — Mayaguez and Vicinity, Puerto Rico

2025-01-11 · Mayaguez and Vicinity, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

A professor from the University of Puerto Rico reported sand and vegetation along PR-102 near the Guanajibo River due to large breaking waves in the area.

Wider weather episode

A long-period northerly swell was moving across the local Atlantic waters and Caribbean passages on January 11th, generating large breaking waves along the northerly exposed beaches of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Breaking wave heights reached around 13 to 15 feet. These conditions resulted in life-threatening rip currents, high surf and coastal erosion. High Surf was reported in western Puerto Rico while Coastal Flood was reported in several areas of northern Puerto Rico.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1224914. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.