Lares Municipio, Puerto Rico
Municipio storm and disaster record · FIPS 72081 · population 28,105 · 61 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 112 records for Lares Municipio, Puerto Rico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 74 days; the most frequent are landslide and avalanche records (57 records). 84 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 most damaging was the October 9, 2005 flood ($15.1 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1974, 25 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Storm Ernesto” on November 27, 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
- 112on 74 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $23Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 27latest 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 Lares Municipio most?
The most frequent records are landslide and avalanche records: 57 since 2003. 49% of its landslide and avalanche records since 2003 fell in April and May. Census land area gives no figure for Lares 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 | 57 | 36 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | $25K | – |
| Floods | 21 | 20 | 2002-2025 | 0 | 0 | $22M | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 6 | 2000-2015 | 0 | 0 | $72K | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 8 | 6 | 2012-2025 | 0 | 0 | $23K | – |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2005-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | – |
| Hail | 3 | 2 | 2012-2015 | 0 | 1 | $2K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2001-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | $11K | – |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | $39K | – |
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.
How many tornadoes has Lares Municipio had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Lares Municipio from 2012 to 2012, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 1 tornado whose track touched Lares Municipio since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Puerto Rico.
Every tornado record filed for Lares Municipio (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-09-13 | Lares Municipio | EF0 0.02 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Lares Municipio?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 2, 2026 strong wind ($3,300 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-21 | Funnel CloudLares Municipio | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-02 | Strong WindAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindLares Municipio | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-05 | Flash FloodLares Municipio | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-05-04 | Flash FloodLares Municipio | 0 | 0 | $500 | |
| 2015-06-22 | HailLares Municipio | 0.50 in hail | 0 | 1 | $125 |
| 2012-09-13 | TornadoLares Municipio | EF0 0.02 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2005-10-09 | FloodAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2005-02-20 | WildfireAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2005-02-01 | WildfireAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $302K | |
| 2003-11-10 | FloodAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $6.4M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | HailLares Municipio Marble size hail reported via twitter. | 0.50 in hail | 0 | 1 | $125 |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-10-09 | FloodAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2003-11-10 | FloodAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $6.4M | |
| 2005-02-20 | WildfireAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2012-09-13 | TornadoLares Municipio | EF0 0.02 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2025-05-05 | Flash FloodLares Municipio | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2026-02-02 | Strong WindAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindLares Municipio | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-05-04 | Flash FloodLares Municipio | 0 | 0 | $500 |
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 Lares 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 | 36 | 19 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% 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 1 · Feb 4 · Mar 2 · Apr 14 · May 24 · Jun 6 · Jul 6 · Aug 13 · Sep 16 · Oct 9 · Nov 13 · Dec 4 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lares Municipio
FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Lares Municipio: 17 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-27 | DR-4850 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| 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 |
| 2011-08-22 | EM-3326 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-10-26 | DR-1946 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Assoc W Ts Otto |
| 2005-11-10 | DR-1613 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2004-09-17 | DR-1552 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides |
| 2001-05-16 | DR-1372 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 1989-09-21 | DR-842 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1986-07-10 | DR-768 | Flood | Heavy Rains, 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 |
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 Lares Municipio
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in Puerto RicoEvery Puerto Rico tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Lares MunicipioThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lares Municipio's FEMA declarations (CSV)27 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis