High Surf — North Central, Puerto Rico

2008-03-19 to 2008-03-20 · North Central, Puerto Rico

Event narrative

Debris and sand deposits were reported along road 681 from Barceloneta to Arecibo, the surf was reaching the coastal road. In the Vega Alta municipality the Balandra sector in Cerro Gordo was closed. In Vega Baja road 686 was closed near the Puerto Nuevo beach. In Arecibo the seafront Victor Rosa Avenue was closed, the same suffered significant damage and erosion. The high surf also eroded the fence surrounding the Arecibo lighthouse.

Wider weather episode

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were severely affected by a high surf and coastal flooding situation which peaked on Ash Wednesday, March 19, 2008 through Thursday, March 20, 2008 (during the Easter Holy Week). Severe conditions, which included unprecedented long period swells of 15-17 seconds and isolated wave heights of 35-40 feet, were continuously felt throughout the following weekend. The event finally tapered off by Sunday, March 23, 2008. Notably, this event was the biggest non-tropical swell event to hit the local islands since the Perfect Storm in November, 1991. While there were no injuries or deaths, there were multiple reports of road closures, debris, hotel and home property damage, and evacuations due to the intensely high surf.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 91479. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.