Ponce,Puerto Rico's history with tropical systems
Current weather

(br)=brush (ts)=Tropical Storm (bd)=Back Door,meaning coming from over land from opposite coast.Not all names are noted,also storms before 1950 were not named.Not every stat on every storm description is given(since 1871).
Ponce most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 31st and September 6th
Years within or near core
1876,1878ts,1883brm,1891,1893m,1896,1898ts,1899,1900tsbr,1901ts,1901tsbr,1909,1910,1916,1919ts,1926,1928m,1930m,1931br,1932m,1933ts,1938ts,1945tsbr,1956,
1966brm,1967brm,1979ts,1981tsbr,1989brm,1996,1998,2004ts,2007subts,2011br,2013ts,2014ts,2015ts,2017brm,2017m,2020tsbr,2020ts,2021ts,2022
43 times in 152 yrs end of 2023






Names from list above
Betsy,Inez,Beulah,Frederic,Gert,Hugo,Hortense,Georges,Jeanne,Olga,Irene,Gabrielle,Bertha,Erika,Irma,Maria,Isaias,Laura,Fred,Fiona,

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio
TS=19, 44.19% H=24, 55.81%
25.64% of all tropical systems affecting Ponce are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms
11 years 1968-1978

How often this area gets affected?
Ponce brushed or hit every 3.53 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits in Ponce.(hurricane force wind gusts for a few hours)
(17h)once every 8.94 years

Average years between major hurricane hits in Ponce.(5)
once ev 30.4 years

Average MPH of hurricane hits in Ponce. (based on advisories sustained winds, not gusts)
104 mph

Statistically when Ponce should be affected next
before the end of 2026
This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year

Last affected by
2022 Sept 18th Hurricane Fiona passes just south by 21 miles with 85mph winds slowly moving WNW dumping very heavy rains.

hurricane past
1876 sept 13th 95mph from the east reports of 19 killed but historians suspect the spanish government withheld death toll & damage info.
1891 aug 20th 105mph from the ESE just south hundreds killed
1893 Aug 16th,115mph from the S.E Hit map
1896 Aug 31st 95mph from the S.E
1899 aug 8th San Ciriaco hurricane hits with 110mph winds from the ESE. Winds at approach on SE Puerto Rico were est at 140mph. 3,369 deaths reported in Puerto Rico.Closest approach of eye to Ponce was 15 miles to the North.
1909 Aug 22nd,90mph to the south from the ESE
1910 Sept 6th,95mph just south from the east
1916 Aug 22nd, 80mph from the ESE
1926 july 23rd ,80mph many killed by a hurricane just south while moving NW
1928 sept 13th the san felipe hurricane swept across P.R from the S.E with 160mph winds killing a preist named after the storm.The hurricane was just north of here & dumped over 30 inches of rain 312 killed. US president asking for help | Newspaper Article
1930,Sept 2nd,115mph to the south from the ESE
1932 Sept 27th 145mph winds(hurdat) from due east.Newspaper article
1956 Aug 12th hurricane betsy hits with 90mph winds from the S.E
1996 Sept 10th, hurricane Hortense hit S.W Puerto rico with 80mph winds from the S.E & large waves battered the south coast press 29.23 over 20 inches of rain in city of Guayama east of Ponce 19 killed 4 ft storm surge. NHC report
1998 hurricane Georges to north with 110mph winds heavy damage on entire island 2 billion dollars 12 killed sept 22nd while moving west. Winds here reported at 75mph gust's to 100mph.NHC Report
2017 Sept 20th Hurricane Maria hits just north by 24 miles at closest approach with 120mph winds while moving N.W causing heavy damage. Death toll revised in 2018 to 2,975 for Puerto Rico to include those killed in the aftermath.Probabilistic tracks | radar animation(Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)Main models | Relief concert 5 former presidents attend | Our coverage upon approach | NHC report
2022 Sept 18th Hurricane Fiona passes just south by 21 miles with 85mph winds slowly moving WNW dumping very heavy rains.At one point nearly the entire island was without power reports of heavy flooding & mudslides. radar animation(Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)map closest approach to Ponce

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Stat sources: NHC Track maps/hurdat2/cyclone reports Hurricane research division
Text Sources:(alp)....Divine Wind Kerry Emanuel.....Florida Hurricanes & Tropical Storms John M. Williams & Iver W.Duedall.....Florida's Hurricane History Jay Barnes.....Hurricane Almanac Bryan Norcross.....hurricanecity.com (calculations) Jim Williams.....Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States Rick Schwartz.....Hurricane Watch Dr. Bob Sheets & Jack Williams.....Inside the Hurricane Pete Davies..... Isaac's Storm Erik Larson..... Killer Cane Robert Mykle.....Lunatic Wind William Price Fox....Miami Herald newspaper(microfilm).....Path of destruction John McQuaid & Mark Schleifstein.....Sun sentinel newspaper(microfilm).....The Major Hurricanes to affect the Bahamas Wayne Neely.....The Ship & the Storm Jim Carrier.....plus many more.............

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