NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lares, PR
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
54 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lares, Puerto Rico since 1851, 27 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ernesto in 2024. Since 1950, 20 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 27
- Tropical storms
- 27
- Tornadoes
- 20
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Lares
The strongest storm to pass near Lares was Irma in 2017, a Category 5 hurricane with 171 mph winds when its centre passed 74 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1916, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Lares begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ernesto in 2024, a tropical storm 74 miles away. The 1890s and the 2010s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 54 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Of the 86 Puerto Rico cities on this site, 67% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lares. The highest rating among the 20 tornadoes within 25 miles is F1 or EF1, reached 3 times; the most recent, on July 16, 2023, came within 22 miles. Of the 20, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 15 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on May 2, 2024. Lares has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 91% of the 86 Puerto Rico cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 10 times since 2012, with stones up to 0.75 inches (penny size). Lares has more hail reports within 10 miles than 86% of the 86 Puerto Rico cities.
Compare Lares's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lares
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ErnestoAug 14 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2022 | FionaSep 18 | 25 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | FredAug 11 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | LauraAug 22 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | MariaSep 20 | 15 mi | Category 3 (116 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 7 | 74 mi | Category 5 (171 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2015 | ErikaAug 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2014 | BerthaAug 2 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | IreneAug 22 | 31 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2007 | OlgaDec 11 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 15 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2000 | DebbyAug 22 | 63 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 22 | 13 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1996 | HortenseSep 10 | 19 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 18 | 61 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1984 | KlausNov 7 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1981 | GertSep 8 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 4 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 16 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1961 | FrancesOct 2 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1958 | GerdaSep 14 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | BetsyAug 12 | 14 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | DollySep 8 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 23 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 21 | 69 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 14 | 58 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 6 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormAug 9 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 27 | 6 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormSep 11 | 15 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 2 | 54 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 13 | 7 mi | Category 4 (139 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 4 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 24 | 30 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 3 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 22 | overhead | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 13 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 7 | 49 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 22 | 54 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 12 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 7 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 1 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 8 | 5 mi | Category 3 (128 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 28 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 1 | 12 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 17 | 10 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormAug 20 | 54 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormNov 29 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 13 | 5 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 30 | overhead | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormAug 26 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 24 | 65 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 5 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 18 | 58 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lares: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Lares
By decade
- 2020s4
- 2010s4
- 2000s7
- 1990s2
- 1960s2
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2023 | EF1 | 22 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 1, 2022 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.35 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1962 | F1 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 2024 | EF0 | 17 mi | 0.48 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2023 | EF0 | 18 mi | 0.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2019 | EF0 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 2013 | EF0 | 21 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 2012 | EF0 | in town | 0.02 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 7, 2011 | EF0 | 15 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 25, 2009 | EF0 | 22 mi | 0.04 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 2007 | EF0 | 19 mi | 1.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 2006 | F0 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 20, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lares
The Storm Prediction Center has 10 hail reports within 10 miles of Lares since 2012, made on 9 separate days. None of them reached 1 inch. The largest, 0.75 inches (penny size), fell on May 30, 2017. The most recent report is from September 14, 2021. September has the most reports, 4.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lares
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Arecibo Obsy, PR RQ, 9 miles northeast of Lares at 1,060 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 86°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 80°F and 61°F. May is the wettest at 10.4 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 84.6 inches over 124 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (48.9 of 84.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 54 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 9.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 33 days a year, almost all from April to October. A night below freezing comes less than once a year on average. That 84.6 inches is more than at 20 of the 21 Puerto Rico stations used on this site (95%). Las Marias, 7 miles southwest, has its own station (Mayaguez City, PR RQ): 51.3 inches a year, 33.3 less than here, and an August average high of 90°F against 86°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Mayaguez, PR, 20 miles west, averaged 87°F in September and 81°F in February over 2021–2025. Sea level at the Magueyes Island tide gauge, 25 miles from Lares, has risen 0.81 ± 0.06 inches per decade from 1955 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 8.1 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 41 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80 | 61 | 4.3 | 8 | 82 |
| Feb | 81 | 61 | 3.5 | 6 | 81 |
| Mar | 82 | 61 | 5.3 | 8 | 82 |
| Apr | 83 | 62 | 7.4 | 10 | 82 |
| May | 85 | 65 | 10.4 | 13 | 84 |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 6.7 | 10 | 85 |
| Jul | 87 | 66 | 6.9 | 11 | 86 |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 9.5 | 13 | 86 |
| Sep | 86 | 67 | 9.9 | 13 | 87 |
| Oct | 86 | 66 | 8.3 | 12 | 87 |
| Nov | 82 | 65 | 7.6 | 12 | 85 |
| Dec | 81 | 63 | 4.8 | 9 | 83 |
| Year | 84 | 64 | 84.6 | 124 | 84 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Arecibo Obsy, PR RQ (1,060 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Mayaguez, PR, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Lares
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 138 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lares: 55 flash floods, 41 floods, 21 thunderstorm wind reports, 20 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. They killed 3 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $751.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 49 mph, on September 30, 2012. May has had the most flash floods, 18 of 55. Of the 86 Puerto Rico cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 21 have had fewer than Lares.
May 8, 2024: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Lares — 1 killed, 2 injured.
April 11, 2017: flash flood 4 miles from the centre of Lares — 1 killed.
NWS: “Two minors were swept away by flood waters of Rio Saltillos in Barrio Eneas in San Sebastian.”
April 12, 2018: flood 7 miles from the centre of Lares — 1 killed.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Lares Municipio, which includes Lares, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 4 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Ernesto, on November 27, 2024.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.