Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1851, 41 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 4.3 years. Of those, 22 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fiona (2022), which passed 24 miles away on 18 September 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFiona (2022) — 24 mi away, 18 September 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 140 kt (161 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1852) — 3.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1899) — 13.9 miles
- Passes within 25 miles22 of 41
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi6
- Record span1851–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona (2022) | 18 Sep 2022 | 23.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 11 Aug 2021 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 14.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 24.7 mi | Cat 3 | 108 kt |
| Erika (2015) | 28 Aug 2015 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2014) | 2 Aug 2014 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 37.2 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 15 Sep 2004 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 22 Sep 1998 | 9.9 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Hortense (1996) | 10 Sep 1996 | 14.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 24 Aug 1988 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Klaus (1984) | 7 Nov 1984 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 8 Sep 1981 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 20.9 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 14.3 mi | Cat 3 | 97 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 34.4 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 2 Sep 1930 | 40.2 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 13 Sep 1928 | 18.5 mi | Cat 4 | 127 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 23 Jul 1926 | 24.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 15.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 13 Jul 1916 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 7 Sep 1910 | 31.2 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Aug 1909 | 38.1 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 7 Jul 1901 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 1 Sep 1900 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 13.9 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Oct 1898 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 7.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 20.0 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 20 Aug 1891 | 45.8 mi | Cat 2 | 91 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 29 Nov 1878 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 12.4 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 30 Oct 1867 | 21.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 3.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 18 Aug 1851 | 43.5 mi | Cat 2 | 90 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 | 38.5 mi | 25 kt |
How Ponce 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, Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #314 — more exposed than 85.8% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #25 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 18 miles away on 13 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Maria (2017) passed 25 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 135 kt (155 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 14 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 14 miles away on 27 September 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 104 kt (120 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 4.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 41 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico?
22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 41.
When was the last hurricane in Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Fiona (2022), on 18 September 2022, passing 24 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 Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 18 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.3 years — 41 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby municipios
Ponce Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 5 other municipios with a published storm record. Juana Díaz Municipio, Puerto Rico has 42 on record.