Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1852, 32 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 5.4 years. Of those, 18 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fiona (2022), which passed 43 miles away on 18 September 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFiona (2022) — 43 mi away, 18 September 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 140 kt (161 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1867) — 1.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1928) — 3.9 miles
- Passes within 25 miles19 of 32
- Peak monthSeptember — 17 storms (53% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s, 1910s, 1950s and 1970s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi7
- 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 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 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 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona (2022) | 18 Sep 2022 | 42.6 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 4.1 mi | Cat 3 | 108 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 18.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 15 Sep 2004 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 22 Sep 1998 | 9.2 mi | Cat 2 | 91 kt |
| Hortense (1996) | 10 Sep 1996 | 32.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 18 Sep 1989 | 44.0 mi | Cat 3 | 107 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 8 Sep 1981 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 24 Aug 1971 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 6.7 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Dolly (1953) | 8 Sep 1953 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 8.6 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 15.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 13 Sep 1928 | 3.9 mi | Cat 4 | 127 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 23 Jul 1926 | 43.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 6.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 13 Jul 1916 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 7 Jul 1901 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 7.4 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 25.6 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 5.3 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 28 Nov 1878 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 9.0 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 30 Oct 1867 | 1.1 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 24.5 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Ciales 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, Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #487 — more exposed than 77.9% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #73 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 4 miles away on 13 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Maria (2017) passed 4 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 135 kt (155 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 7 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Hugo (1989) passed 44 miles away on 18 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 32 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 32 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 18 years, between 1932 and 1950. It has been 3 years since the last one; 13 of the 28 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico?
18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 32.
When was the last hurricane in Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Fiona (2022), on 18 September 2022, passing 43 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 Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 4 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.4 years — 32 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
Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 6 other municipios with a published storm record. Arecibo Municipio, Puerto Rico has 37 on record.