San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1851, 42 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 4.2 years. Of those, 23 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fiona (2022), which passed 9 miles away on 18 September 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFiona (2022) — 9 mi away, 18 September 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 130 kt (150 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordGeorges (1998) — 2.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Georges (1998) — 2.9 miles
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 42
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (43% 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 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona (2022) | 18 Sep 2022 | 8.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 11 Aug 2021 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 31.5 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Erika (2015) | 28 Aug 2015 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2014) | 2 Aug 2014 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 46.8 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 15 Aug 2008 | 31.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 15 Sep 2004 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 22 Sep 1998 | 2.9 mi | Cat 2 | 93 kt |
| Hortense (1996) | 10 Sep 1996 | 4.1 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 24 Aug 1988 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 8 Sep 1981 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 30.2 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 14 Oct 1943 | 43.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 9.0 mi | Cat 2 | 93 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 27.1 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 2 Sep 1930 | 39.0 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 14 Sep 1928 | 22.1 mi | Cat 4 | 120 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 24 Jul 1926 | 14.9 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 15.8 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 7 Sep 1910 | 35.3 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Aug 1909 | 40.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 7 Jul 1901 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 1 Sep 1900 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 21.3 mi | Cat 3 | 110 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Oct 1898 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 5.3 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 25.8 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 20 Aug 1891 | 38.7 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 29 Nov 1878 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 8.9 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 30 Oct 1867 | 11.0 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1855) | 26 Aug 1855 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 18 Aug 1851 | 44.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How San Germán 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, San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #301 — more exposed than 86.4% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #20 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 22 miles away on 14 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 21 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 117 kt (135 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Maria (2017) passed 31 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 111 kt (128 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1930) passed 39 miles away on 2 September 1930 as a hurricane, reaching 103 kt (119 mph) while within 50 miles.
27 of the 42 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 42 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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; 13 of the 39 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico?
23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 42.
When was the last hurricane in San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Fiona (2022), on 18 September 2022, passing 9 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 San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 22 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.2 years — 42 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
San Germán Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 6 other municipios with a published storm record. Mayagüez Municipio, Puerto Rico has 46 on record.