Storms near Puerto Rico
The record holds 81 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Puerto Rico between 1851 and 2024. The busiest month is September, with 32 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 5 strength. 12 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 81storms within 50 km
- 12major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 38at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Puerto Rico?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 4 | 5% |
| Tropical storm | 27 | 33% |
| Category 1 | 15 | 19% |
| Category 2 | 11 | 14% |
| Category 3 | 5 | 6% |
| Category 4 | 4 | 5% |
| Category 5 | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown intensity | 12 | 15% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Puerto Rico storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 6 |
| 1860s | 5 |
| 1870s | 6 |
| 1880s | 3 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 4 |
| 1910s | 4 |
| 1920s | 4 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 3 |
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 29 |
| Sep | 32 |
| Oct | 10 |
| Nov | 3 |
| Dec | 1 |
Strongest storms near Puerto Rico
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1928 (North Atlantic)6 September 1928 to 21 September 1928, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 929 hPa
- Maria (2017)16 September 2017 to 2 October 2017, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 909 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1899 (North Atlantic)3 August 1899 to 4 September 1899, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1932 (North Atlantic)25 September 1932 to 2 October 1932, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 943 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1930 (North Atlantic)29 August 1930 to 17 September 1930, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 933 hPa
Most recent storms near Puerto Rico
- Ernesto (2024)11 August 2024 to 20 August 2024, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 967 hPa
- Fiona (2022)14 September 2022 to 27 September 2022, Category 1 (80 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 931 hPa
- Fred (2021)9 August 2021 to 20 August 2021, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 991 hPa
- Laura (2020)20 August 2020 to 29 August 2020, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 937 hPa
- Karen (2019)22 September 2019 to 27 September 2019, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Puerto Rico ranks number 12 among US states and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Puerto Rico with their own pages
- Irma (2017)30 August 2017 to 13 September 2017, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 914 hPa
- Maria (2017)16 September 2017 to 2 October 2017, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 909 hPa
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Georges (1998)15 September 1998 to 1 October 1998, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 937 hPa
- Marilyn (1995)12 September 1995 to 1 October 1995, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 950 hPa
- Betsy (1956)9 August 1956 to 21 August 1956, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Bertha (1996)5 July 1996 to 17 July 1996, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Fiona (2022)14 September 2022 to 27 September 2022, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 931 hPa
- Irene (2011)21 August 2011 to 30 August 2011, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 942 hPa
- Dorian (2019)24 August 2019 to 9 September 2019, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 910 hPa
- Hortense (1996)3 September 1996 to 16 September 1996, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 935 hPa
- Jeanne (2004)13 September 2004 to 29 September 2004, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 951 hPa
Puerto Rico counties
Every county that a storm has come near is listed, most storms first. 78 of them have at least 3 storms and their own page.