Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico
Municipio storm and disaster record · FIPS 72039 · population 16,965 · 67 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 171 records for Ciales Municipio, Puerto Rico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 110 days; the most frequent are landslide and avalanche records (66 records). 123 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the October 25, 2007 debris flow, filed for the forecast zone Central Interior, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 2 injuries and $142,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 30 declarations naming the county since 1970, 28 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Storm Ernesto” on August 13, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 171on 110 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 46 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $128Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 30latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Ciales Municipio most?
The most frequent records are landslide and avalanche records: 66 since 2003. 45% of its landslide and avalanche records since 2003 fell in April and May. Census land area gives no figure for Ciales Municipio under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landslides and avalanches | 66 | 44 | 2003-2025 | 2 | 2 | $281K | – |
| Floods | 43 | 31 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 0 | $16M | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 20 | 10 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 1 | $111M | – |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 10 | 1996-2017 | 0 | 0 | $13K | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 9 | 7 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $20K | – |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1997-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Hail | 5 | 4 | 1997-2018 | 0 | 0 | $1K | – |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 2005-2011 | 0 | 0 | $302K | – |
| Rip currents and high surf | 3 | 3 | 2024-2025 | 1 | 3 | $24K | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2003-2018 | 0 | 0 | $4K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2001-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Ciales Municipio?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 4, 2025 rip current (3 injuries).
Rip currents near the Cueva del Indio area in Arecibo swept away three individuals. All victims were rescued. No property damage was reported.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1296619)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-04 | Rip CurrentAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2025-09-09 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 28 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-04-28 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $40K | |
| 2025-04-20 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2025-04-20 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2025-04-19 | Debris FlowAdjuntas, Ciales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $4K | |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $600 |
| 2025-04-19 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-03-05 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $2K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-10-25 | Debris FlowAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior A landslide along road PR-14, at Barrio Asomante, 100 Muros Sector in the Aibonito municipality was responsible for the death of two persons, and injuries to another two, as they drove a Ford F-150 extra cabin near km. 44.8, when a large landslide of rocks fell on the vehicle, as they drove towards Coamo municipality. | 2 | 2 | $142K | |
| 2025-01-19 | Rip CurrentAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior A 63-year-old man was fishing with his son at a boat ramp near Playa Abacoa, close to the mouth of Cao Tiburones in Arecibo. At approximately 5:40 AM AST, the man lost his footing and fell into the water, where strong rip currents swiftly carried him into open waters. His son immediately alerted emergency services, ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-11-10 | FloodAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior Heavy rains affected Puerto Rico during the week of November 10-15, leading to widespread flash flooding, and numerous mud, land and rock slides. A total of 19 municipalities were declared a federal disaster area with total damages estimated at around 45 million.On November 10, an active tropical wave approached ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-04 | Rip CurrentAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior Rip currents near the Cueva del Indio area in Arecibo swept away three individuals. All victims were rescued. No property damage was reported. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2004-09-14 | Tropical StormAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior Tropical Storm Jeanne and its associated weather affected Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra from Sep. 14-17. On its wake it left considerable damages to the electric power grid, the water supply system, highways and roads, bridges, schools, individual households, businesses and commerce due to extensive flooding, ... | 0 | 1 | $106M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-14 | Tropical StormAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior | 0 | 1 | $106M | |
| 2001-08-22 | Tropical StormAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior | 0 | 0 | $667K | |
| 2007-10-25 | Debris FlowAibonito Municipio and 9 more · forecast zone Central Interior | 2 | 2 | $142K | |
| 2025-04-28 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $40K | |
| 2025-04-19 | Debris FlowCiales Municipio | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-09-09 | Thunderstorm WindCiales Municipio | 28 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Ciales Municipio's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 0 | 47 | 12 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 25 | 10 | 2 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 12 | 4 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its landslide and avalanche records since 2003 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 18 · Feb 3 · Mar 3 · Apr 13 · May 34 · Jun 5 · Jul 7 · Aug 16 · Sep 22 · Oct 12 · Nov 29 · Dec 9 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Ciales Municipio
FEMA's register lists 30 declarations that include Ciales Municipio: 20 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (15) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-13 | EM-3610 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| 2022-09-21 | DR-4671 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fiona |
| 2022-09-18 | EM-3583 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fiona |
| 2020-08-22 | EM-3537 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Laura |
| 2020-07-29 | EM-3532 | Hurricane | Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4493 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3452 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020-01-16 | DR-4473 | Earthquake | Earthquakes |
| 2020-01-07 | EM-3426 | Earthquake | Earthquakes |
| 2019-08-27 | EM-3417 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Dorian |
| 2017-09-20 | DR-4339 | Hurricane | Hurricane Maria |
| 2017-09-18 | EM-3391 | Hurricane | Hurricane Maria |
| 2017-09-10 | DR-4336 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2011-08-27 | DR-4017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-22 | EM-3326 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-07-14 | DR-4004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2004-09-17 | DR-1552 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides |
| 2001-11-28 | DR-1396 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides and Landslides |
| 1999-11-17 | EM-3151 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lenny |
| 1998-09-24 | DR-1247 | Hurricane | Hurricane Georges - 18 Sep 98 |
| 1996-09-11 | DR-1136 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hortense |
| 1995-09-16 | DR-1068 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marilyn |
| 1989-09-21 | DR-842 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1986-07-10 | DR-768 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Flooding & Mudslides |
| 1985-10-10 | DR-746 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
| 1985-05-31 | DR-736 | Flood | Storms, Mud/Land Slides, Flooding |
| 1979-09-02 | DR-597 | Hurricane | Hurricane David |
| 1975-09-19 | DR-483 | Flood | Tropical Storm Elioise |
| 1974-11-30 | DR-455 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1970-10-12 | DR-296 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Counties that share a border with Ciales Municipio
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Landslides and avalanches in Puerto RicoThe state's landslide and avalanche records, by county, year and month
- The Puerto Rico recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Ciales MunicipioThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Ciales Municipio's FEMA declarations (CSV)30 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis