Puerto Rico’s climate is classified as tropical rainforest, with an average temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit in lower regions and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the mountains. The island’s second major earthquake occurred on January 7, 2020, with an estimated magnitude of 6.4. The tsunami triggered by the earthquake swept the island’s west coast, causing extensive destruction, including about 118 deaths and destruction of property worth $4-$29 million. The 1918 San Fermin earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1, struck the island at 1014hr local time, along the Puerto Rico Trench.

On October 11, 1918, Puerto Rico experienced one of the worst earthquakes in its history. The tectonic stressors that are deforming the plates cause them to interact, leading to seismic events. Add a light sweatshirt and a pashmina for airconditioned places.Because Puerto Rico lies on the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates, the archipelago is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The Americans have introduced the habit of using air conditioning, so the temperature inside buildings is often much lower than outdoors: it can be useful to bring some warmer clothes, at least for those who are sensitive to cold.įrom December to April: bring light clothes, and a sweatshirt for the evening.įrom May to November: bring tropics-friendly, lightweight clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms. If you want to visit Puerto Rico in summer, you may prefer the south coast, which is less rainy, especially in June and July, when there is a certain decrease in precipitation, in addition, the risk of hurricanes in these months is lower than in August. However, there is some risk of tropical storms and hurricanes. In summer, the heat is sweltering and rainfall is frequent, although it generally occurs in the form of downpours and thunderstorms that do not last long, so after a while, they give way to the sun. In April, there is already a certain increase in rainfall, especially in inland areas, while the rains on the southern coast are still quite rare. More in particular, since it is generally the least rainy periods, the best time is February-March along the north and east coasts, and from December to March along the south and west coasts. In general, the coolest and least rainy period in Puerto Rico runs from December to March, which is also outside of the hurricane season. However, even when they are not intense, tropical storms can produce heavy rains in mountainous areas, which can cause landslides and floods. The archipelago was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in September 1998 and by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The rainiest areas are the northern slopes of the Cordillera Central, where there is no real dry season, and in particular, those of the Caribbean National Forest (or El Yunque): on Pico del Este, about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, 4,300 mm (170 in) of rain fall per year.įrom June to November, the archipelago can be hit by tropical storms and hurricanes, with a higher probability between August and October. Here are the average temperatures of the capital, San Juan, located on the north coast.Ĭerro Maravilla - Average temperatures Month However, the temperature in these cases can drop below 10 ☌ (50 ☏) in the inland hilly areas, and around freezing in the mountains. The north-east trade winds, which blow all year round, but especially in the cool season, starting from November, deposit the moisture that has been picked up in the sea in the form of rain, especially on the northern side, which therefore is rainier than the southern one.Įvery now and then, from December to March, the archipelago can be affected by some frontal systems from the United States, which can bring some clouds and rains, and also a cool wind, able to lower the temperature by a few degrees, although in a less noticeable way than in Cuba and Yucatan (Mexico), which are closer to the American continent. In contrast, on the southern coast, there's a relative decrease in rainfall in June and July. In Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island and an unincorporated territory of the United States, there is a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a hot and muggy season from May to October and a relatively cool season from December to March, with November and April as intermediate months.Īs regards to the rains, the hot and muggy period from May to October tends to be rainy everywhere, while in the first months when the north-east trade winds blow (November and December, and partly January), the rains are still abundant on the slopes facing north and east.

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