Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1852, 36 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 4.8 years. Of those, 19 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fiona (2022), which passed 22 miles away on 18 September 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFiona (2022) — 22 mi away, 18 September 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 126 kt (145 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordOlga (2007) — 2.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1932) — 12.2 miles
- Passes within 25 miles25 of 36
- Peak monthSeptember — 17 storms (47% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi6
- Record span1852–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 2 | 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 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona (2022) | 18 Sep 2022 | 22.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 11 Aug 2021 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 24.4 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Bertha (2014) | 2 Aug 2014 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 41.9 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 15 Aug 2008 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 2.4 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 22 Sep 1998 | 21.2 mi | Cat 2 | 94 kt |
| Hortense (1996) | 10 Sep 1996 | 14.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 24 Aug 1988 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 9 Sep 1981 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 24.6 mi | Cat 1 | 81 kt |
| Dolly (1953) | 8 Sep 1953 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 14 Oct 1943 | 36.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 12.2 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 11.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 3 Sep 1930 | 49.7 mi | Cat 3 | 102 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 14 Sep 1928 | 14.8 mi | Cat 4 | 121 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 24 Jul 1926 | 18.5 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 4.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 7 Jul 1901 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 14.2 mi | Cat 3 | 108 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 6.0 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 17.8 mi | Cat 2 | 91 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 20 Aug 1891 | 45.2 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 29 Nov 1878 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 7.4 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 30 Oct 1867 | 6.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Rincón 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, Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #406 — more exposed than 81.6% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #54 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 15 miles away on 14 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 126 kt (145 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 14 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Maria (2017) passed 24 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1930) passed 50 miles away on 3 September 1930 as a hurricane, reaching 101 kt (116 mph) while within 50 miles.
25 of the 36 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 36 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 2 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; 11 of the 33 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico?
19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 36.
When was the last hurricane in Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Fiona (2022), on 18 September 2022, passing 22 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 Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 126 kt (145 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.8 years — 36 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
Rincón Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 5 other municipios with a published storm record. Mayagüez Municipio, Puerto Rico has 46 on record.