Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Palmer comunidad has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 81°F (27°C). Winters average 76°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 354 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 38.2 inches. 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 46 feet.
Temperature
76°F Jan (25°C)83°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
80.6°F
49% above US avg
January Average
76°F (25°C)
July Average
83°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
354 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Area
0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
Population Density
7,930/sq mi
Coordinates
18.3704°N, 65.7734°W
Timezone
America/Puerto_Rico
County
Río Grande Municipio County
Nearest Airport
Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU) 16 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall38.2"
0% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (May)8.15"
Driest Month (Feb)2.76"
Air Quality
AQI Median
21.0
Rating
Good
Earthquake History
22,725 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.4.
Jan 7, 2020
4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico
M6.4
119 km
6 km
Jan 13, 2014
61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico
M6.4
132 km
20 km
Oct 17, 2001
112 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M6.0
141 km
33 km
Jan 11, 2020
5 km SE of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.9
123 km
5 km
May 16, 2010
4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico
M5.8
137 km
113 km
Jan 6, 2020
14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.8
124 km
6 km
Jan 7, 2020
11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.6
114 km
10 km
Oct 16, 2001
112 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M5.6
144 km
33 km
Jan 7, 2020
0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico
M5.6
113 km
9 km
Feb 4, 2008
Puerto Rico region
M5.5
140 km
15 km
May 2, 2020
6 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.4
112 km
9 km
Jul 3, 2020
9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
M5.3
140 km
3 km
Aug 1, 1993
68 km SSE of Emajagua, Puerto Rico
M5.3
108 km
25 km
Jan 15, 2020
Puerto Rico region
M5.2
141 km
5 km
Jan 10, 2020
4 km S of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.2
127 km
9 km
Jan 11, 2020
19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.2
124 km
10 km
Aug 14, 2009
92 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico
M5.1
99 km
47 km
May 11, 1996
107 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M5.1
136 km
36 km
Sep 6, 2004
122 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico
M5.1
125 km
14 km
Mar 12, 2009
66 km N of Brenas, Puerto Rico
M5.1
100 km
15 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
27 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
202 km
2024
Ernesto
Category 1
75 mph
227 km
2023
Tammy
Category 1
86 mph
270 km
2022
Fiona
Category 1
92 mph
133 km
2019
Dorian
Category 1
86 mph
66 km
2017
Maria
Category 5
173 mph
43 km
2017
Irma
Category 5
178 mph
71 km
2017
Jose
Category 4
132 mph
284 km
2014
Gonzalo
Category 3
115 mph
191 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
23 km
2010
Earl
Category 4
132 mph
146 km
2008
Omar
Category 4
132 mph
165 km
2004
Frances
Category 4
144 mph
226 km
2004
Jeanne
Category 1
81 mph
236 km
2000
Debby
Category 1
75 mph
62 km
1999
Lenny
Category 4
155 mph
149 km
1999
Jose
Category 1
75 mph
211 km
1998
Georges
Category 3
121 mph
30 km
1996
Bertha
Category 3
115 mph
76 km
1996
Hortense
Category 1
81 mph
115 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
12 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 30, 1974
EF1
27 km
2.0 mi
0
May 5, 1969
EF1
35 km
1.5 mi
0
Mar 16, 2023
EF0
25 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 30, 2019
EF0
40 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 26, 2017
EF0
27 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 18, 2016
EF0
75 km
0.6 mi
0
Aug 25, 2000
EF0
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 23, 2000
EF0
31 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 8, 1999
EF0
25 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 8, 1996
EF0
92 km
0.2 mi
0
May 1, 1995
EF0
36 km
—
0
Oct 7, 1969
EF0
54 km
1.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 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
84 km
1868
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Earthquake
1.5 m
—
77 km
2020
PUERTO RICO
Earthquake
0.1 m
4
119 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
65 km
2007
UNNAMED
3,896
65 km
2005
UNNAMED
1,888
61 km
2005
PISTA DE SALINAS CARR 3
1,137
70 km
2005
UNNAMED
725
59 km
2013
PUERTO NEGRO
631
51 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
76°F (25°C)
3.7 in
February
75°F (24°C)
2.8 in
Coldest, Driest
March
76°F (24°C)
3.2 in
April
77°F (25°C)
4.8 in
May
79°F (26°C)
8.2 in
Wettest
June
80°F (27°C)
5.7 in
July
83°F (28°C)
5.6 in
Warmest
August
81°F (27°C)
7.1 in
September
81°F (27°C)
7.4 in
October
80°F (27°C)
8.0 in
November
78°F (26°C)
7.4 in
December
76°F (24°C)
5.8 in
Palmer comunidad has a seasonal temperature swing of 8°F / from 75°F in February to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 69.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (8.2") and February the driest (2.8").