Coastal Flood — North Central, Puerto Rico

2025-01-11 · North Central, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

Emergency managers reported coastal flooding and debris deposition in the Cerro Gordo area of Vega Alta. The provided photo shows a flooded residential street, with standing water and scattered debris. The flooding and debris are associated with strong wave action from an incoming swell impacting the coast.

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 1224921. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.