Hurricane (Typhoon) — Culebra, Puerto Rico

2000-08-22 to 2000-08-23 · Culebra, Puerto Rico

Wider weather episode

Debby formed on the 18th of August as a tropical depression about 1100 miles east of the Windward Islands. The storm moved west northwest and strengthened to a hurricane on the morning of August 22 just northeast of the Leeward Islands. Debby passed about 30 miles north of St.Thomas late that morning and about 30 to 40 miles off the northeast coast of Puerto Rico during the afternoon. The storm continued to move west northwest and weakened during most of the day and night and by the 23rd it was located about 100 miles northwest of Puerto Rico as a tropical storm. Its major impact over Puerto Rico was flooding. Some sectors in the interior received more than 12 inches of rain in a 48-hour period. This caused widespread flooding and many rivers to overflow their banks forcing communities to be evacuated. Also this rainfall caused landslides and mudslides and induced various bridges to collapse. Many homes were affected by flood waters island wide. Maximum sustained wind speed at the San Juan Airport was 24 mph with gusts to 35 mph. In Ceiba, maximum sustained winds were 28 mph with gust to 35 mph. Damages were estimated around .5 M due to flooding affecting about 406 homes. Caguas municipality was the most affected with 237 families reporting some degree of flood damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5157373. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.