Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Palmas comunidad has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 74°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 351 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 50.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 21 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 168 feet.
Temperature
74°F Jan (24°C)81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
78.3°F
45% above US avg
January Average
74°F (24°C)
July Average
81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
351 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
168 ft (51 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
Population Density
895/sq mi
Coordinates
17.9884°N, 66.0251°W
Timezone
America/Puerto_Rico
County
Arroyo Municipio County
Nearest Airport
Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU) 31 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall50.0"
32% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Oct)8.74"
Driest Month (Feb)1.65"
Air Quality
AQI Median
21.0
Rating
Good
Earthquake History
18,245 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.4.
Jan 13, 2014
61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico
M6.4
144 km
20 km
Jan 7, 2020
4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico
M6.4
83 km
6 km
Jan 11, 2020
5 km SE of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.9
87 km
5 km
Jan 6, 2020
14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.8
85 km
6 km
May 16, 2010
4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico
M5.8
120 km
113 km
Jan 7, 2020
11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.6
75 km
10 km
Jan 7, 2020
0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico
M5.6
80 km
9 km
Feb 4, 2008
Puerto Rico region
M5.5
148 km
15 km
May 2, 2020
6 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.4
74 km
9 km
Aug 1, 1993
68 km SSE of Emajagua, Puerto Rico
M5.3
73 km
25 km
Nov 23, 1992
28 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico
M5.3
147 km
31 km
Jul 3, 2020
9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
M5.3
104 km
3 km
Jan 10, 2020
4 km S of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.2
91 km
9 km
Jan 15, 2020
Puerto Rico region
M5.2
105 km
5 km
Jan 11, 2020
19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.2
83 km
10 km
Mar 12, 2009
66 km N of Brenas, Puerto Rico
M5.1
126 km
15 km
Aug 14, 2009
92 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico
M5.1
145 km
47 km
Jan 7, 2020
7 km SE of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.0
69 km
10 km
Jan 7, 2020
14 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.0
73 km
10 km
Feb 4, 2020
15 km SSE of Guánica, Puerto Rico
M5.0
92 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
25 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 5.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2025
Erin
Category 5
161 mph
250 km
2024
Ernesto
Category 1
75 mph
246 km
2022
Fiona
Category 1
92 mph
83 km
2019
Dorian
Category 1
86 mph
108 km
2017
Maria
Category 5
173 mph
13 km
2017
Irma
Category 5
178 mph
121 km
2014
Gonzalo
Category 3
109 mph
240 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
92 mph
27 km
2010
Earl
Category 4
132 mph
195 km
2008
Omar
Category 4
132 mph
165 km
2004
Frances
Category 4
144 mph
270 km
2004
Jeanne
Category 1
81 mph
219 km
2000
Debby
Category 1
75 mph
112 km
1999
Lenny
Category 4
155 mph
139 km
1999
Jose
Category 1
75 mph
236 km
1998
Georges
Category 3
121 mph
27 km
1996
Bertha
Category 3
115 mph
125 km
1996
Hortense
Category 1
81 mph
66 km
1995
Luis
Category 4
144 mph
242 km
1995
Marilyn
Category 3
115 mph
97 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
14 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 1, 2022
EF1
92 km
0.4 mi
0
Aug 30, 1974
EF1
29 km
2.0 mi
0
May 5, 1969
EF1
36 km
1.5 mi
0
Mar 16, 2023
EF0
26 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 30, 2019
EF0
48 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 26, 2017
EF0
44 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 18, 2016
EF0
69 km
0.6 mi
0
Sep 13, 2012
EF0
96 km
0.0 mi
0
Aug 25, 2000
EF0
31 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 23, 2000
EF0
45 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 8, 1999
EF0
28 km
0.1 mi
0
May 1, 1995
EF0
48 km
—
0
Oct 7, 1969
EF0
80 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 28, 1959
EF0
83 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
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
111 km
1918
PUERTO RICO: MONA PASSAGE
Eruption + Earthquake
6.1 m
144
146 km
1868
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Earthquake
1.5 m
—
99 km
2020
PUERTO RICO
Earthquake
0.1 m
4
83 km
1918
PUERTO RICO
Earthquake
—
—
135 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
6 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO (3,927 acres, 2005).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2005
CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO
3,927
26 km
2007
UNNAMED
3,896
27 km
2005
UNNAMED
1,888
20 km
2005
PISTA DE SALINAS CARR 3
1,137
30 km
2005
UNNAMED
725
12 km
2013
PUERTO NEGRO
631
73 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
74°F (24°C)
1.8 in
Coldest
February
76°F (24°C)
1.7 in
Driest
March
76°F (25°C)
1.7 in
April
78°F (26°C)
2.1 in
May
80°F (27°C)
5.2 in
June
81°F (27°C)
4.6 in
July
81°F (27°C)
4.8 in
August
82°F (28°C)
6.1 in
Warmest
September
81°F (27°C)
7.4 in
October
80°F (27°C)
8.7 in
Wettest
November
79°F (26°C)
5.4 in
December
77°F (25°C)
2.7 in
Palmas comunidad has a seasonal temperature swing of 7°F / from 74°F in January to 82°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 52.3 inches, with October being the wettest month (8.7") and February the driest (1.7").