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Weather & Climate in Palmas, Puerto Rico
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Palmas 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). The city sits at an elevation of 177 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 | 177 ft (54 m) |
| Area | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,160/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 17.9872°N, 66.0254°W |
| Timezone | America/Puerto_Rico |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
18,227 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 |
| May 16, 2010 | 4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico | M5.8 | 120 km | 113 km |
| Jan 6, 2020 | 14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico | M5.8 | 85 km | 6 km |
| Jan 7, 2020 | 0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico | M5.6 | 80 km | 9 km |
| Jan 7, 2020 | 11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico | M5.6 | 74 km | 10 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 |
| Nov 23, 1992 | 28 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | M5.3 | 147 km | 31 km |
| Aug 1, 1993 | 68 km SSE of Emajagua, Puerto Rico | M5.3 | 73 km | 25 km |
| Jul 3, 2020 | 9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico | M5.3 | 104 km | 3 km |
| Jan 11, 2020 | 19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico | M5.2 | 83 km | 10 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 |
| 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 |
| Feb 4, 2020 | 15 km SSE of Guánica, Puerto Rico | M5.0 | 91 km | 7 km |
| Jan 25, 2020 | 1 km N of Indios, Puerto Rico | M5.0 | 84 km | 13 km |
| Jan 7, 2020 | 14 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico | M5.0 | 73 km | 10 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 | 82 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 | 271 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 | 126 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).
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 | 74 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 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").