Climate of Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
The climate of Puerto Rico falls into the tropical
climatic zone. Temperatures are moderate year round, averaging near 80 °F (26.7 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21.1 °C) in the mountains. Easterly trade wind
s pass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has a rainy season which stretches from April into November. The mountains of the Cordillera Central are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects adding to the climatic variation. About a quarter of the annual rainfall for Puerto Rico, on average, occurs during tropical cyclone
s, which are more frequent during La Niña
events.
Temperatures range from 70 to 90 °F (21.1 to 32.2 C) in the lower
elevations, while higher elevations in the central part of the island experience temperatures between 60 and 80 °F (15.6 and 26.7 C) year round. The temperature in the south is a few degrees higher than the north. Between winter and summer, there is only a temperature swing of around 6 F-change. This is mainly due to the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic ocean
, which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest. The highest temperature ever recorded was 103°F at San Lorenzo, while the lowester temperature ever recorded was 38°F at Aibonito.
and land breeze circulations dominate. Higher winds occur in the vicinity of tropical cyclones, which pass by every 5 years.
's topography, rainfall varies greatly across the island. Pico del Este averages 171.09 inches (4,345.7 mm) of rainfall yearly while Magueyes Island averages only 29.32 inches (744.7 mm) a year. There have not been any documented cases of snow falling within Puerto Rico, though occasionally it is brought in from elsewhere as a publicity stunt.
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
climatic zone. Temperatures are moderate year round, averaging near 80 °F (26.7 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21.1 °C) in the mountains. Easterly trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
s pass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has a rainy season which stretches from April into November. The mountains of the Cordillera Central are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects adding to the climatic variation. About a quarter of the annual rainfall for Puerto Rico, on average, occurs during tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s, which are more frequent during La Niña
La Niña
La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C...
events.
Temperature
| Monthly average high and low temperatures (°F/°C) for various Puerto Rico locations. | ||||||
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuntas Substation | 79 °F (26.1 °C) 55 °F (12.8 °C) |
80 °F (26.7 °C) 54 °F (12.2 °C) |
81 °F (27.2 °C) 55 °F (12.8 °C) |
81 °F (27.2 °C) 58 °F (14.4 °C) |
83 °F (28.3 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
84 °F (28.9 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
| Aibonito Aibonito, Puerto Rico Aibonito is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo... |
74 °F (23.3 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
75 °F (23.9 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
77 °F (25 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
78 °F (25.6 °C) 63 °F (17.2 °C) |
79 °F (26.1 °C) 63 °F (17.2 °C) |
80 °F (26.7 °C) 66 °F (18.9 °C) |
| Cerro Maravilla | 68 °F (20 °C) 56 °F (13.3 °C) |
68 °F (20 °C) 55 °F (12.8 °C) |
69 °F (20.6 °C) 56 °F (13.3 °C) |
69 °F (20.6 °C) 58 °F (14.4 °C) |
71 °F (21.7 °C) 59 °F (15 °C) |
73 °F (22.8 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
| Lajas Substation | 86 °F (30 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
86 °F (30 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
88 °F (31.1 °C) 65 °F (18.3 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 68 °F (20 °C) |
91 °F (32.8 °C) 69 °F (20.6 °C) |
| Ponce Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the... 4 E |
86 °F (30 °C) 67 °F (19.4 °C) |
86 °F (30 °C) 66 °F (18.9 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 67 °F (19.4 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 69 °F (20.6 °C) |
88 °F (31.1 °C) 72 °F (22.2 °C) |
90 °F (32.2 °C) 74 °F (23.3 °C) |
| San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of... |
83 °F (28.3 °C) 71 °F (21.7 °C) |
84 °F (28.9 °C) 71 °F (21.7 °C) |
85 °F (29.4 °C) 71 °F (21.7 °C) |
86 °F (30 °C) 73 °F (22.8 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 75 °F (23.9 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 76 °F (24.4 °C) |
| City | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Adjuntas Substation | 85 °F (29.4 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
85 °F (29.4 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
85 °F (29.4 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
84 °F (28.9 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
82 °F (27.8 °C) 60 °F (15.6 °C) |
80 °F (26.7 °C) 57 °F (13.9 °C) |
| Aibonito | 81 °F (27.2 °C) 67 °F (19.4 °C) |
81 °F (27.2 °C) 67 °F (19.4 °C) |
81 °F (27.2 °C) 67 °F (19.4 °C) |
80 °F (26.7 °C) 66 °F (18.9 °C) |
78 °F (25.6 °C) 65 °F (18.3 °C) |
75 °F (23.9 °C) 63 °F (17.2 °C) |
| Cerro Maravilla | 73 °F (22.8 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
73 °F (22.8 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
73 °F (22.8 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
72 °F (22.2 °C) 61 °F (16.1 °C) |
71 °F (21.7 °C) 59 °F (15 °C) |
69 °F (20.6 °C) 57 °F (13.9 °C) |
| Lajas Substation | 92 °F (33.3 °C) 69 °F (20.6 °C) |
91 °F (32.8 °C) 69 °F (20.6 °C) |
90 °F (32.2 °C) 69 °F (20.6 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 68 °F (20 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 66 °F (18.9 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 62 °F (16.7 °C) |
| Ponce 4 E | 90 °F (32.2 °C) 74 °F (23.3 °C) |
91 °F (32.8 °C) 73 °F (22.8 °C) |
90 °F (32.2 °C) 73 °F (22.8 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 72 °F (22.2 °C) |
88 °F (31.1 °C) 70 °F (21.1 °C) |
87 °F (30.6 °C) 68 °F (20 °C) |
| San Juan | 88 °F (31.1 °C) 77 °F (25 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 77 °F (25 °C) |
89 °F (31.7 °C) 76 °F (24.4 °C) |
88 °F (31.1 °C) 75 °F (23.9 °C) |
86 °F (30 °C) 74 °F (23.3 °C) |
84 °F (28.9 °C) 72 °F (22.2 °C) |
Temperatures range from 70 to 90 °F (21.1 to 32.2 C) in the lower
elevations, while higher elevations in the central part of the island experience temperatures between 60 and 80 °F (15.6 and 26.7 C) year round. The temperature in the south is a few degrees higher than the north. Between winter and summer, there is only a temperature swing of around 6 F-change. This is mainly due to the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest. The highest temperature ever recorded was 103°F at San Lorenzo, while the lowester temperature ever recorded was 38°F at Aibonito.
Wind
Persistent 19 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) trade winds move from east to west across the island year round. In lighter wind regimes, sea breezeSea breeze
A sea-breeze is a wind from the sea that develops over land near coasts. It is formed by increasing temperature differences between the land and water; these create a pressure minimum over the land due to its relative warmth, and forces higher pressure, cooler air from the sea to move inland...
and land breeze circulations dominate. Higher winds occur in the vicinity of tropical cyclones, which pass by every 5 years.
Rainfall
There is a pronounced rainy season from April to November. Due to the commonwealthCommonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
's topography, rainfall varies greatly across the island. Pico del Este averages 171.09 inches (4,345.7 mm) of rainfall yearly while Magueyes Island averages only 29.32 inches (744.7 mm) a year. There have not been any documented cases of snow falling within Puerto Rico, though occasionally it is brought in from elsewhere as a publicity stunt.
Severe weather
- Puerto Rico experiences the Atlantic hurricane season, similar to the remainder of the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic oceans. On average, a quarter of its annual rainfall is contributed from tropical cyclones, which is more prevalent during periods of La Niña than El Niño. A cyclone of tropical storm strength passes near Puerto Rico, on average, every 5 years. A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every 11 years. Only one category 5 hurricane has struck the island since 1851, the Lake Okeechobee Hurricane1928 Okeechobee HurricaneThe Okeechobee hurricane, or San Felipe Segundo hurricane, was a deadly hurricane that struck the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Florida in September of the 1928 Atlantic hurricane season...
of September 1928.Wettest tropical cyclones, precursor disturbances, and remnants, in Puerto Rico
Highest known recorded totalsPrecipitation Storm Measurement
stationRank (mm) (in) 1 1058.7 mm 41.68 inches T. D. #19 1970 Jayuya 1 SE 2 846 mm 33.29 inches Eloise 1975 Hurricane EloiseHurricane Eloise was the most destructive tropical cyclone of the 1975 Atlantic hurricane season. The fifth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Eloise formed as a tropical depression on September 13 to the east of the Virgin Islands...
Dos Bocas 3 804 mm 31.67 inches Isabel 1985 Tropical Storm Isabel (1985)Tropical Storm Isabel was the ninth tropical storm of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm's track extended from the Caribbean to the southeastern United States during the second week of October. Prior to developing into a tropical cyclone, it produced torrential rainfall, resulting in...
Toro Negro Forest 4 775 mm 30.51 inches Georges 1998 Hurricane GeorgesHurricane Georges was a very destructive, powerful and long-lived Cape Verde-type Category 4 hurricane. Georges was the seventh tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season...
Jayuya 5 662 mm 26.07 inches Hazel 1954 Hurricane HazelHurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
Toro Negro Tunnel 6 653 mm 25.69 inches Klaus 1984 Hurricane Klaus (1984)Hurricane Klaus was an Atlantic hurricane that hit the Leeward Islands from the west in November of the 1984 Atlantic hurricane season. Forming from a broad area of low pressure on November 5, Klaus maintained a northeast movement throughout much of its path...
7 596 mm 23.48 inches Hortense 1996 Hurricane HortenseHurricane Hortense was the eighth tropical storm, sixth hurricane, and second Category 4 hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season. Lasting from September 3 to September 16, Hortense brought torrential flooding as it moved through the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic...
8 504 mm 19.86 inches David 1979 Hurricane DavidHurricane David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was among the deadliest hurricanes in the latter half of the 20th century, killing...
9 447 mm 17.60 inches Hugo 1989 Hurricane HugoHurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
10 438 mm 17.23 inches Noel 2007 - Sometimes, during showers and thunderstorms, waterspoutWaterspoutA waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and is connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by mesocyclones do occur...
s form off the coasts, frequently on the west coast. In the inner sea, tornadoes and hailstorms are possible. These thunderstorms can be a result from tropical waveTropical waveTropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
s, tropical cycloneTropical cycloneA tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s, and frontal boundaries which become stationary across the region between fall and springSpring (season)Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
.
See also
- List of wettest known tropical cyclones in Puerto Rico