Puerto Rico Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Climate=== {{Main|Climate of Puerto Rico}} [[File:Puerto Rico Köppen.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Köppen climate types in Puerto Rico indicating that the island primarily has rainforest and monsoon climate types]] The climate of Puerto Rico in the [[Köppen climate classification]] is mostly [[tropical rainforest]]. Temperatures are warm to hot year round, averaging near 85 °F (29 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. Easterly [[trade winds]] pass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has a [[Wet season|rainy season]], which stretches from April into November, and a [[dry season]] stretching from December to March. The mountains of the Cordillera Central create a [[rain shadow]] and are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects, adding to the climatic variation. Daily temperature changes seasonally are quite small in the lowlands and coastal areas. Between the dry and wet seasons, there is a temperature change of around {{convert|6|F-change|1}}. This change is due mainly to the warm waters of the tropical [[Atlantic Ocean]], which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest. Coastal water temperatures during the year are about {{convert|75|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in February and {{convert|85|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in August. The highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|110|F}} at [[Arecibo, Puerto Rico|Arecibo]],<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Stillman |first=Dan |date=2023-06-07 |title=Historic heat is roasting Puerto Rico, where it feels like 125 degrees |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/06/07/puerto-rico-heat-wave-caribbean/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |archive-date=17 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017040357/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/06/07/puerto-rico-heat-wave-caribbean/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while the lowest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|40|F}} in the mountains at [[Adjuntas, Puerto Rico|Adjuntas]], [[Aibonito, Puerto Rico|Aibonito]], and [[Corozal, Puerto Rico|Corozal]].<ref name="NOAA-PR">{{cite web |url=http://nowdata.rcc-acis.org/SJU/pubACIS_results |title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=27 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009161414/http://nowdata.rcc-acis.org/SJU/pubACIS_results |archive-date=9 October 2011}}</ref> The average yearly precipitation is {{convert|66|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Daly2003">{{cite journal |last1=Daly |first1=Christopher |last2=Helmer |first2=Eileen H. |last3=Quiñonez |first3=Maya |year=2003 |title=Mapping the Climate of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra |journal=International Journal of Climatology |volume=23 |issue=11 |pages=1359–81 |doi=10.1002/joc.937 |bibcode=2003IJCli..23.1359D|doi-access=free }}</ref> ==== Hurricanes ==== Puerto Rico experiences the [[Atlantic hurricane season]], similar to the rest of the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. On average, a quarter of its annual rainfall is contributed from [[Tropical cyclone|tropical cyclones]], which are more prevalent during periods of [[La Niña]] than [[El Niño]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rodgers |first1=Edward B. |last2=Adler |first2=Robert F. |last3=Pierce |first3=Harold F. |title=Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to the North Atlantic Climatological Rainfall as Observed from Satellites |journal=Journal of Applied Meteorology |date=November 2001 |volume=40 |issue=11 |pages=1785–1800 |doi=10.1175/1520-0450(2001)040<1785:COTCTT>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=2001JApMe..40.1785R |doi-access=free }}</ref> A cyclone of tropical storm strength passes near Puerto Rico, on average, every five years. A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every seven years. Since 1851, the [[1928 Okeechobee Hurricane|Lake Okeechobee Hurricane]] (also known as the San Felipe Segundo hurricane in Puerto Rico) of September 1928 is the only hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane.<ref>Aurelio Mercado and Harry Justiniano. [http://coastalhazards.uprm.edu/ Coastal Hazards of Puerto Rico.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006134919/http://coastalhazards.uprm.edu/ |date=6 October 2011 }} Retrieved on 23 January 2008.</ref> In the busy [[2017 Atlantic hurricane season]], Puerto Rico avoided a direct hit by the Category 5 [[Hurricane Irma]] on 6 September 2017, as it passed about {{cvt|60|mi}} north of Puerto Rico, but high winds caused a loss of electrical power to some one million residents. Almost 50% of hospitals were operating with power provided by generators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/damage-hurricane-irma-caribbean-49703893 |title=A look at the damage from Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean |work=ABC News |language=en |access-date=20 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910132716/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/damage-hurricane-irma-caribbean-49703893 |archive-date=10 September 2017 }}</ref> The Category 4 [[Hurricane Jose (2017)|Hurricane Jose]], as expected, veered away from Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ketv.com/article/katia-strengthens-jose-maintains-wind-speed-in-the-atlantic/12197516 |title=Jose remains dangerous Category 4 hurricane |date=9 September 2017 |website=KETV |language=en |access-date=20 September 2017 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910193530/http://www.ketv.com/article/katia-strengthens-jose-maintains-wind-speed-in-the-atlantic/12197516 |url-status=live }}</ref> A short time later, the devastating [[Hurricane Maria]] made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, 20 September, near the [[Yabucoa]] municipality at 10:15 UTC (6:15 am local time) as a high-end Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h), powerful rains and widespread flooding causing tremendous destruction, including the electrical grid, which would remain out for 4–6 months in many portions of the island.<ref name="MariaDisc18">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.018.shtml |title=Hurricane Maria |last=Berg |first=Robbie |date=20 September 2017 |publisher=National Hurricane Center |access-date=20 September 2017 |archive-date=21 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001351/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.018.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/hurricane-maria-makes-landfall-puerto-rico-category-4-storm-n802911|title=Hurricane Maria cuts all electricity as it crushes Puerto Rico|website=NBC News|date=21 September 2017|access-date=21 September 2017|archive-date=21 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921235245/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/hurricane-maria-makes-landfall-puerto-rico-category-4-storm-n802911|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/9/23/16354564/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-electricity-relief-dam-breaking |title=The entire island of Puerto Rico may be without electricity for months |date=23 September 2017 |access-date=28 September 2017 |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928103436/https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/9/23/16354564/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-electricity-relief-dam-breaking |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, [[Hurricane Dorian]] became the third hurricane in three years to hit Puerto Rico. The recovering infrastructure from the 2017 hurricanes, as well as new governor [[Wanda Vázquez Garced]], were put to the test against a potential humanitarian crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-army-corps-teams-in-puerto-rico-florida-ahead-of-dorian-arrival/|title=Pittsburgh Army Corps teams in Puerto Rico, Florida ahead of Dorian's mainland arrival | TribLIVE.com|website=triblive.com|date=28 August 2019|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828171706/https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-army-corps-teams-in-puerto-rico-florida-ahead-of-dorian-arrival/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-dorian-s-bullseye-three-things-know-island-braces-n1047196|title=Puerto Rico is in Dorian's bull's-eye: Three things to know as island braces for the storm|website=NBC News|date=28 August 2019|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828171913/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-dorian-s-bullseye-three-things-know-island-braces-n1047196|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] also caused impacts to Puerto Rico during 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/24/763750825/tropical-storm-karen-bears-down-on-puerto-rico-virgin-islands|title=Tropical Storm Karen's Squalls Hit Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands|author=Barbara Campbell, Paolo Ziaclita|newspaper=NPR|date=24 September 2019|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201095554/https://www.npr.org/2019/09/24/763750825/tropical-storm-karen-bears-down-on-puerto-rico-virgin-islands|url-status=live}}</ref> ==== Climate change ==== {{Excerpt|Climate change in Puerto Rico|file=2}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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