Weather & Preparedness
Hurricane Hub
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with the statistical peak between mid-August and late October. Puerto Rico sits at the heart of the Atlantic basin's most active corridor — understanding the season, its history, and how to prepare is essential for everyone on the island and the diaspora.
About the Season
The Atlantic hurricane season officially spans six months, but tropical systems can develop outside those dates. Warm ocean temperatures in the Caribbean — typically above 26 °C (79 °F) — combined with low wind shear and atmospheric moisture create the conditions that allow tropical depressions to intensify into tropical storms and, ultimately, hurricanes.
For Puerto Rico, the threat is direct: the island lies in the path of storms tracking westward from the central Atlantic or curving northward through the Caribbean. Even storms that do not make landfall can bring destructive storm surge, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding to the island's mountainous interior.
Storms are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, from Category 1 (74–95 mph) to Category 5 (≥157 mph). Category 3 and above are classified as major hurricanes.
Track Active Storms
787daily does not display live storm data — for real-time track forecasts, watches, and warnings, go directly to the official sources:
- National Hurricane Center (NHC) — nhc.noaa.gov Official advisories, cone forecasts, and active storm tracks for the Atlantic and Pacific basins.
- NWS San Juan — weather.gov/sju Local watches, warnings, and forecasts specifically for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Major Storms in Puerto Rico's History
Puerto Rico has absorbed some of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. This timeline covers the island's most significant landfalls and near-misses, colour-coded by Saffir-Simpson category.
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Hurricane María
Category 4September 20, 2017
155 mph Peak winds2017 Year≈2,975 ImpactMaría made landfall near Yabucoa at approximately 155 mph, making it the strongest hurricane to strike Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years. The storm caused catastrophic island-wide destruction to infrastructure, housing, and agriculture. The resulting power outage became the longest blackout in U.S. history, with many communities without electricity for months. The official death toll was subsequently revised by independent researchers and the government to approximately 2,975.
Learn more -
Hurricane Irma
Category 5September 6, 2017
180 mph Peak winds2017 Year~1M without power ImpactIrma passed just north of Puerto Rico as a catastrophic Category 5 storm — one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. Although it did not make direct landfall, its outer bands knocked out power for roughly 1 million customers and caused significant damage. It struck just two weeks before María.
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Hurricane Georges
Category 3September 21, 1998
115 mph Peak winds1998 YearWidespread flooding ImpactGeorges crossed Puerto Rico from east to west as a Category 3 hurricane, battering the entire island with sustained winds near 115 mph. It caused widespread flooding, extensive agricultural losses, and long-term displacement for thousands of families.
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Hurricane Hugo
Category 3September 18, 1989
140 mph (peak) Peak winds1989 YearVieques & Culebra hit hardest ImpactHugo made landfall in northeastern Puerto Rico with sustained winds near 140 mph at peak intensity before affecting the island. Vieques and Culebra bore the brunt of the storm. Widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure preceded Hugo's later devastation to South Carolina.
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San Felipe Segundo (Okeechobee Hurricane)
Category 5September 13, 1928
160 mph Peak winds1928 Year>300 in PR ImpactOne of the strongest direct hits on Puerto Rico in recorded history. San Felipe Segundo — named both for the saint's day and its later landfall in Florida — made landfall near Guayama with maximum sustained winds estimated at 160 mph. More than 300 people died in Puerto Rico, and nearly the entire coffee crop was destroyed. The storm went on to cause catastrophic loss of life around Lake Okeechobee, Florida.
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San Ciriaco
HistoricAugust 8, 1899
>20 in. rainfall Peak winds1899 Year>3,000 in PR ImpactAmong the deadliest storms in Puerto Rico's recorded history, San Ciriaco struck the island during a period when modern forecasting did not exist. The hurricane produced extreme rainfall — some areas received more than 20 inches — and triggered massive flooding. Estimated deaths in Puerto Rico exceed 3,000, making it one of the most lethal natural disasters in the island's history.
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Prepare
Preparedness before a storm is the single most effective thing residents can do. Key steps include building a supply kit, knowing your evacuation zone, and having a family communication plan.
- Ready.gov — Hurricane Preparedness (FEMA) Supply checklists, evacuation guidance, and step-by-step family planning.
- NWS San Juan — weather.gov/sju Local hazard information, flood watches, and shelter-in-place guidance for Puerto Rico.
787daily aggregates news and educational content — we do not issue emergency alerts or official forecasts. During active storms, always follow guidance from the National Hurricane Center, NWS San Juan, and Puerto Rico emergency management authorities.