San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico Hurricane History
Since 1852, 34 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico — about one every 5.1 years. Of those, 16 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Laura (2020), which passed 31 miles away on 22 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentLaura (2020) — 31 mi away, 22 August 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1928) — 140 kt (161 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1932) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1932) — 2.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 34
- Peak monthSeptember — 19 storms (56% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi7
- Record span1852–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 1 | 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 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura (2020) | 22 Aug 2020 | 30.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Karen (2019) | 24 Sep 2019 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Maria (2017) | 20 Sep 2017 | 5.8 mi | Cat 4 | 125 kt |
| Irene (2011) | 22 Aug 2011 | 6.2 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Olga (2007) | 11 Dec 2007 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 15 Sep 2004 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 21 Sep 1998 | 4.8 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 18 Sep 1989 | 25.9 mi | Cat 3 | 109 kt |
| Klaus (1984) | 7 Nov 1984 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Gert (1981) | 8 Sep 1981 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 18 Jul 1979 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Christine (1973) | 4 Sep 1973 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Doria (1971) | 24 Aug 1971 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Betsy (1956) | 12 Aug 1956 | 12.3 mi | Cat 2 | 84 kt |
| Dolly (1953) | 8 Sep 1953 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 23 Aug 1950 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 3 Sep 1949 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 27 Sep 1932 | 2.1 mi | Cat 3 | 104 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 11 Sep 1931 | 24.4 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 13 Sep 1928 | 8.1 mi | Cat 5 | 137 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 3 Sep 1919 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 22 Aug 1916 | 8.1 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 13 Jul 1916 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 7 Sep 1910 | 44.7 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 12 Sep 1901 | 20.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 31 Aug 1900 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 8 Aug 1899 | 17.1 mi | Cat 4 | 121 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 1 Sep 1896 | 37.5 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 17 Aug 1893 | 8.3 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 28 Nov 1878 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 13 Sep 1876 | 3.6 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 29 Oct 1867 | 13.2 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 5 Sep 1852 | 31.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 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 | 20.7 mi | 25 kt |
How San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico ranks #444 — more exposed than 79.9% of them. Within Puerto Rico it ranks #63 of 78, against a territory average of 38.4 storms per municipio.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 8 miles away on 13 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 5 Maria (2017) passed 6 miles away on 20 September 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 137 kt (158 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 17 miles away on 8 August 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 122 kt (140 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 2 miles away on 27 September 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 116 kt (133 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 34 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 34 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 2 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 17 years, between 1932 and 1949. It has been 5 years since the last one; 12 of the 31 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 34.
When was the last hurricane in San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Maria (2017), on 20 September 2017, passing 6 miles away — 9 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Laura (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
Unnamed Storm (1928), which reached 140 kt (161 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.1 years — 34 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
San Lorenzo Municipio, Puerto Rico borders or sits close to 6 other municipios with a published storm record. Arroyo Municipio, Puerto Rico has 41 on record.