Debris Flow — Eastern Interior, Puerto Rico

2009-12-25 · Eastern Interior, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

A wall of mud and debris at least five feet high crashed into a home at Barrio Arenas, Los Ares sector in Las Piedras municipality, damaging all its contents, and forcing its residents to evacuate and seek shelter in a neighboring home. Twenty four fighting roosters were killed by the mudslide.

Wider weather episode

December 24th and December 25th stood out because they were the wettest days of the month which in turn evolved into the most hydrologically active period across the region. By the evening of December 24th, a Flood Watch was issued for most of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as heavy rain began to envelope the area due to shower and thunderstorm development from the interaction of local effects and a low pressure center northeast of Hispaniola that was slowly drifting east northeast across the forecast area. Maximum rainfall reports from this event ranged from 5 to 9 inches. The two highest reports in Puerto Rico were 7.13 inches in San Lorenzo and 9.0 inches in Aibonito. The runoff from this rainfall resulted in flash flooding in Aibonito, Fajardo, Las Piedras and Naguabo. Rapid and significant rises were also noted on the Rio Fajardo, Rio Naguabo, Rio Gurabo, Rio de La Plata and the Rio Grande de Loiza and many of its tributaries.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 213764. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.