Utuado Municipio, Puerto Rico
Municipio storm and disaster record · FIPS 72141 · population 28,272 · 114 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 170 records for Utuado Municipio, Puerto Rico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 112 days; the most frequent are landslide and avalanche records (77 records). The deadliest single record is the September 20, 2017 flash flood: 3 deaths and $903 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 39 declarations naming the county since 1970, 37 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
- 170on 112 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 41 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $927Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 39latest 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 Utuado Municipio most?
The most frequent records are landslide and avalanche records: 77 since 2003. 45% of its landslide and avalanche records since 2003 fell in April and May. The rank column places the county among Puerto Rico's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landslides and avalanches | 77 | 52 | 2003-2025 | 0 | 0 | $58K | 1 of 3 |
| Floods | 48 | 39 | 2002-2025 | 4 | 0 | $925M | 3 of 3 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 12 | 2012-2022 | 0 | 0 | $16K | 2 of 3 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 9 | 7 | 2013-2026 | 0 | 0 | $32K | 3 of 3 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 8 | 6 | 2000-2015 | 0 | 0 | $72K | 3 of 3 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2005-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 2 of 3 |
| Hail | 4 | 4 | 2014-2021 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 1 of 3 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | $11K | 3 of 3 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2001-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 3 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 1 | – | 1 of 3 |
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 Utuado Municipio?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 19, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | Thunderstorm WindUtuado Municipio | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2026-02-02 | Strong WindAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-09-24 | Thunderstorm WindUtuado Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-09-22 | Debris FlowUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-09-22 | LightningUtuado Municipio | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-09-12 | Debris FlowUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $400 | |
| 2025-09-12 | FloodUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $400 | |
| 2025-09-05 | Debris FlowAdjuntas, Utuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $3K | |
| 2025-08-18 | Thunderstorm WindUtuado Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-08-10 | FloodUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2025-08-08 | Debris FlowUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $6K | |
| 2025-05-02 | Flash FloodUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $10K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-20 | Flash FloodUtuado Municipio Catastrophic flash flooding occurred along Rio Grande de Arecibo in the municipality of Utuado. Serious mudslides occurred across the municipality, were many bridges were totally destroyed, leaving most communities were isolated from getting food, gas and goods supplies. Three sisters were confirmed dead at San Miguel ... | 3 | 0 | $903M | |
| 2012-05-06 | Flash FloodUtuado Municipio Fisherman hit by water surge in Jayuya River in Utuado near Road PR-607 and Caonillas Lake. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-22 | LightningUtuado Municipio A police officer was struck by lightning at the Policia de Puerto Rico: Comandancia Regional de Utuado. The officer was standing outside the building, sheltering under an umbrella, when he was struck by lightning. | 0 | 1 | – |
| 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 | |
| 2009-10-14 | Flash FloodUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $344K | |
| 2026-02-19 | Thunderstorm WindUtuado Municipio | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-04-26 | Debris FlowUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-08-08 | Debris FlowUtuado Municipio | 0 | 0 | $6K | |
| 2026-02-02 | Strong WindAdjuntas Municipio and 6 more · forecast zone Western Interior | 30 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 Utuado 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 | 20 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 26 | 11 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
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 2 · Feb 4 · Mar 5 · Apr 21 · May 26 · Jun 6 · Jul 5 · Aug 24 · Sep 29 · Oct 28 · Nov 16 · Dec 4 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Utuado Municipio
FEMA's register lists 39 declarations that include Utuado Municipio: 28 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (15) and severe storm (10).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-27 | DR-4850 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| 2024-08-13 | EM-3610 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| 2024-07-23 | DR-4805 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2017-09-05 | EM-3384 | 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 |
| 2010-10-26 | DR-1946 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Assoc W Ts Otto |
| 2010-06-24 | DR-1919 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-10-01 | DR-1798 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1501 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 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 |
| 1992-01-22 | DR-931 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1989-09-21 | DR-842 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1987-12-17 | DR-805 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Utuado 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 Utuado MunicipioThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Utuado Municipio's FEMA declarations (CSV)39 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis