High Surf — North Central, Puerto Rico

2010-02-12 · North Central, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

A 12 year old girl was carried out into the ocean by large waves at the Poza de las Mujeres in Manati.

Wider weather episode

Vigorous winter storm over the Northeastern United States produced gale force winds off the South Carolina and Georgia coast that added to a developing fetch that was headed towards the Northeast Caribbean. Very large long period north northwest swells build across the local Atlantic waters and Caribbean passages on February 12 and made for hazardous marine conditions. Swells of 13 to 15 feet were forecast by the models with breakers reaching 20 to 25 feet. A high surf and coastal flood warning was in effect for the northern exposed coastlines of Puerto Rico.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 218499. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.