Flash Flood — Eastern Interior, Puerto Rico

2003-04-17 · near Countywide, Eastern Interior, Puerto Rico

Wider weather episode

An intense upper to mid level trough located west of Puerto Rico, coupled with an influx of moist and unstable southerly winds, managed to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms that affected the island of Puerto Rico and began early on Thursday morning. This event led to severe flooding in many municipalities, especially along the east half and portions of south and southwest Puerto Rico. Many houses were reported flooded in Fajardo, Las Piedras, Rio Grande, Naguabo and residents had to be placed in shelters. Several people had to be rescued from overflowing rivers. One person in Juncos was reported missing, when he was overtaken by a river crest from the Gurabo river, and his raft overturned. Another person drowned in Fajardo, and in Humacao one person was buried by a mud slide. An estimated of 21 roads in the areas of Ponce, Las Piedras, Naguabo, Rio Grande, San Lorenzo, Fajardo, Lajas, Guanica, Luquillo and Canovanas were declared unfit for transit, mostly due to flooding and mudslides. In Naguabo, large mudslides were reported in the Florida and Rio Blanco area. Both La Plata and Carraizo water reservoir levels returned back to normal after the dry spell of previous months. Several rivers spilled over their banks, knocking down utility posts in Rio Grande.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5349000. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.