Debris Flow — Western Interior, Puerto Rico

2007-12-11 · Western Interior, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

A landslide was reported along road 521, Km. 4.8, Barrio Vegas Arriba in Adjuntas.

Wider weather episode

On December 10, 2007, a persistent area of low pressure just north Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, rapidly developed into Subtropical storm Olga. Olga was the 10th tropical cyclone to develop during the month of December in roughly 150 years of records. Additionally, it is only the 4th December tropical storm on record to hit land. In the 48-hour period in which Olga affected the island of Puerto Rico, radar estimates showed over 15' inches of rain had fallen across some of the higher elevations of the islands, while observations showed approximately 10' had fallen. Generally, island-wide totals ranged from 4-8'. Several landslides were reported over the interior and north section of the island. One death indirectly related to the storm's impact was blamed on a landslide caused by heavy rainfall, which occurred at Barrio Dajaos, along Highway 167 from Bayamon to Naranjito. Additionally, several rivers reached 'major flood stage' through densely populated areas. Subtropical Storm Olga eventually intensified into Tropical Storm Olga as it hit the Dominican Republic one day later.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 74181. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.