Here the sun is shining, and the sky is stunningly blue, as it is most mornings in western Puerto Rico. Sadly, these skies are deceptive. For the past week, there has been heavy rainfall, life threatening flooding, and quite a few critical landslides throughout the archipelago. According to El Nacional, on May 1, Governor Jenniffer González Colón declared a state of emergency for four towns; now, the situation has worsened. Across the main island, people are still trying to recover their belongings from impacted homes, businesses, and cars.
As El Vocero (4 May 2025) reports in “Continúa la vigilancia de inundaciones para Puerto Rico,” the National Meteorological Service (NMS) in San Juan warned this morning that a flood watch continues for all of Puerto Rico due to the amount of rain expected in the region and the wet, unstable weather pattern that continues on the island. El Vocero reports:
[. . .] The flood watch will be in effect until at least tonight, around 8:00 p.m. Between two and four inches of rain are expected this afternoon, the National Meteorological Service (SNM) detailed. “Heavy rains and thunderstorms will continue today across the region. Please monitor weather conditions and avoid flooded roads,” the National Meteorological Service (SNM) urged through X.
Last Wednesday, the meteorological agency issued the first bulletin informing about the flood watch, which was scheduled to last until Friday morning. However, on Friday, it was extended until Saturday morning, on Saturday it was extended until the evening, and last night it was extended again until tonight.
According to SNM meteorologist Cecille Villanueva, in a previous interview with EL VOCERO, “the rivers are very high, there are closed roads, and many landslides in mountainous areas. [. . .] Areas such as Vega Baja, Vega Alta, and Dorado have been heavily impacted and could receive more rain,” she noted. “The population is urged to avoid flood-prone areas and remain alert to developing weather conditions,” the meteorologist reiterated.
Yesterday, another SNM meteorologist, Yidiana Zayas, explained that the heaviest downpours occurred Saturday afternoon in several municipalities in the interior of Puerto Rico. According to Zayas, the heaviest downpours yesterday afternoon were recorded in Cayey, Salinas, Aibonito, Coamo, Barranquitas, and Naranjito.
Between two and three inches of rain were observed in parts of Adjuntas, Lares, San Sebastián, and other mountainous areas in the interior. Significant rainfall has also been reported in Aguas Buenas, Naranjito, Aibonito, San Germán, and Cayey. […]
Excerpts translated by Ivette Romero. For full article (in Spanish), see https://www.elvocero.com/el-tiempo/contin-a-la-vigilancia-de-inundaciones-para-puerto-rico/article_ddeb3b28-9d3b-4ea7-b215-51a17334874e.html
Also see https://elnacional.com.do/puerto-rico-declara-estado-de-emergencia/ and https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2025/05/04/patron-de-tiempo-inestable-continuara-durante-los-proximos-dias/
Photo above from https://elnacional.com.do/puerto-rico-declara-estado-de-emergencia/