Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1852, 41 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 4.2 years. Of those, 20 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fiona (2022), which passed 47 miles away on 18 September 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFiona (2022) — 47 mi away, 18 September 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 140 kt (161 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJeanne (2004) — 3.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1928) — 6.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles19 of 41
- Peak monthSeptember — 20 storms (49% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1980s and 2010s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi8
- Record span1852–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona (2022) | 18 Sep 2022 | 46.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 11 Aug 2021 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Karen (2019) | 24 Sep 2019 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 8.9 mi | Cat 4 | 125 kt |
| Erika (2015) | 28 Aug 2015 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 15 Sep 2004 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 21 Sep 1998 | 12.3 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Hortense (1996) | 10 Sep 1996 | 41.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 18 Sep 1989 | 36.8 mi | Cat 3 | 110 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 24 Aug 1988 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Klaus (1984) | 7 Nov 1984 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 8 Sep 1981 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 8.1 mi | Cat 2 | 84 kt |
| Dolly (1953) | 8 Sep 1953 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 13.7 mi | Cat 3 | 104 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 36.6 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 2 Sep 1930 | 49.5 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 13 Sep 1928 | 6.7 mi | Cat 5 | 137 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 23 Jul 1926 | 42.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 6.7 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 13 Jul 1916 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 7 Sep 1910 | 32.7 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Aug 1909 | 43.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 7 Jul 1901 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 31 Aug 1900 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 7.0 mi | Cat 4 | 121 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Oct 1898 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 25.3 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 8.2 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 28 Nov 1878 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 9.3 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 29 Oct 1867 | 26.0 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 19.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noel (2007) | Remnant low | 26 Oct 2007 | 13.6 mi | 25 kt |
How Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #310 — more exposed than 86.0% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #21 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 7 miles away on 13 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 5 Maria (2017) passed 9 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 137 kt (158 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 7 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 122 kt (140 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 14 miles away on 27 September 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 116 kt (133 mph) while within 50 miles.
27 of the 41 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 41 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 23 years, between 1956 and 1979. It has been 3 years since the last one; 13 of the 37 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 41.
When was the last hurricane in Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Fiona (2022), on 18 September 2022, passing 47 miles away — 4 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Fiona (2022) in 2022.
What was the strongest storm to affect Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 7 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.2 years — 41 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby municipios
Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 4 other municipios with a published storm record. Patillas Municipio, Puerto Rico has 39 on record.