Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

Full City Profile

12,036 Population 434/sq mi density

108 ft Elevation 33 meters

80°F Avg Temperature 26°C

Vega Alta has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (27°C). Winters average 75°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 354 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.4 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

75°F Jan (24°C) 83°F Jul (29°C)

Annual Average	79.6°F
	47% above US avg
January Average	75°F (24°C)
July Average	83°F (29°C)
Sunny Days	354 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	108 ft (33 m)
Area	27.8 sq mi (71.9 km²)
Population Density	434/sq mi
Coordinates	18.4122°N, 66.3313°W
Timezone	America/Puerto_Rico

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 45.4"

19% above US avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Aug) 8.03"

Driest Month (Feb) 3.07"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

22,530 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.4. Most recent: M0.0 on Aug 30, 2025.

Jan 13, 2014	61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico	M6.4	86 km
Jan 7, 2020	4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico	M6.4	72 km
Sep 24, 2019	67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico	M6.0	123 km
Jan 11, 2020	5 km SE of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico	M5.9	75 km
May 16, 2010	4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico	M5.8	78 km
Jan 6, 2020	14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico	M5.8	80 km
May 15, 2024	92 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico	M5.6	149 km
Jan 7, 2020	11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico	M5.6	71 km
Jan 7, 2020	0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico	M5.6	64 km
Dec 11, 2000	65 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico	M5.5	110 km
Feb 4, 2008	Puerto Rico region	M5.5	91 km
May 2, 2020	6 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico	M5.4	67 km
Aug 1, 1993	68 km SSE of Emajagua, Puerto Rico	M5.3	130 km
Jul 3, 2020	9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico	M5.3	91 km
Nov 23, 1992	28 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico	M5.3	96 km
Jan 11, 2020	19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico	M5.2	82 km
Jan 10, 2020	4 km S of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico	M5.2	79 km
Jan 15, 2020	Puerto Rico region	M5.2	91 km
Aug 14, 2009	92 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico	M5.1	114 km
Mar 12, 2009	66 km N of Brenas, Puerto Rico	M5.1	73 km

Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

24 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 5.

Year	Name	Category	Closest
2025	Erin	Category 4	217 km
2024	Ernesto	Category 1	189 km
2022	Fiona	Category 1	91 km
2019	Dorian	Category 1	103 km
2017	Maria	Category 5	27 km
2017	Irma	Category 5	89 km
2014	Gonzalo	Category 3	231 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	22 km
2010	Earl	Category 4	171 km
2008	Omar	Category 4	215 km
2004	Frances	Category 4	231 km
2004	Jeanne	Category 1	177 km
2000	Debby	Category 1	70 km
1999	Lenny	Category 4	196 km
1999	Jose	Category 1	270 km
1998	Georges	Category 3	24 km
1996	Bertha	Category 3	109 km
1996	Hortense	Category 1	76 km
1995	Luis	Category 4	232 km
1995	Marilyn	Category 3	86 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 15.2 m (50 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1867	VIRGIN ISLANDS	Earthquake	15.2 m	24	143 km
1918	PUERTO RICO: MONA PASSAGE	Eruption + Earthquake	6.1 m	144	96 km
1868	VIRGIN ISLANDS	Earthquake	1.5 m	—	135 km
2020	PUERTO RICO	Earthquake	0.1 m	4	72 km
1918	PUERTO RICO	Earthquake	—	—	93 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

6 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO (3,927 ac, 2005).

Year	Name	Acres	Distance
2005	CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO	3,927	44 km
2007	UNNAMED	3,896	43 km
2005	UNNAMED	1,888	47 km
2005	PISTA DE SALINAS CARR 3	1,137	45 km
2005	UNNAMED	725	55 km
2007	CARR 304	606	89 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	75°F (24°C)	5.0 in	Coldest
February	75°F (24°C)	3.1 in	Driest
March	75°F (24°C)	3.5 in
April	77°F (25°C)	4.7 in
May	79°F (26°C)	8.0 in
June	80°F (27°C)	5.4 in
July	83°F (29°C)	6.9 in	Warmest
August	81°F (27°C)	8.0 in	Wettest
September	80°F (27°C)	6.4 in
October	80°F (27°C)	6.5 in
November	78°F (26°C)	7.6 in
December	76°F (24°C)	6.6 in

Vega Alta has a seasonal temperature swing of 9°F / from 75°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 71.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (8.0") and February the driest (3.1").

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