Debris Flow — Ponce and Vicinity, Puerto Rico

2011-08-03 · Ponce and Vicinity, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

A downed tree fell over power lines at Barrio Ferran in the municipality of Ponce.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Emily developed of a broad rotation tropical wave that moved off of the African coast early in the week of July 24, 2011 and gradually traveled across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Based largely on a report from Hurricane Hunter aircraft that a well-defined center had formed 50 miles west-southwest of Dominica (15.2N, 62.0W) the National Hurricane Center named the storm and issued the first advisory for Emily at 730 PM AST (2330 UTC) on Monday, August 1, 2011. It was moving west at 17 mph. A tropical storm warning was then issued for Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra, and a tropical storm watch was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands

Tropical Storm Emily passed near 120 miles south of Ponce during the morning of August 3rd. Outer rain bands associated with the storm produced numerous showers with strong gusty winds across Puerto Rico. The highest wind gust directly recorded was 48 mph at 400 am AST on August 3 (0800 UTC) at the La Parguera Lajas, as Emily was near its closest point to the island.The most affected areas were the southeast and southwest sections of Puerto Rico were 6-10 inches of rain were reported. The heavy rainfall resulted in many mud slides across Puerto Rico, especially where the heaviest rain occurred. Mud slides were reported to block or partially block roads in the eastern municipalities of Canovanas, Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, Las Piedras, Yabucoa, Juncos, Caguas, San Lorenzo, Guayama, Patillas, while the La Plata River flooded portions of Dorado and Toa Baja. Also, trees were blown down in Humacao and Luquillo. Over the western portion of the island flooded roads occurred in Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros, Lajas, Maricao, and Yauco, and a few mud slides also occurred. Trees were reported blown over in San German, Adjuntas, and Utuado.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 319742. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.