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Weather & Climate in Rafael Hernandez, Puerto Rico
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Rafael Hernandez has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 74°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 356 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 42.2 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 364 feet.
Temperature
74°F Jan (23°C)
82°F Jul (28°C)
| Annual Average | 78.3°F |
| 45% above US avg | |
| January Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| July Average | 82°F (28°C) |
| Sunny Days | 356 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 5,414/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 18.4713°N, 67.0791°W |
| Timezone | America/Puerto_Rico |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
22,472 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 | 64 km | 6 km |
| Jan 13, 2014 | 61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico | M6.4 | 70 km | 20 km |
| Sep 24, 2019 | 67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | M6.0 | 70 km | 10 km |
| Jan 11, 2020 | 5 km SE of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico | M5.9 | 63 km | 5 km |
| May 16, 2010 | 4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico | M5.8 | 8 km | 113 km |
| May 28, 2014 | 45 km SE of Boca de Yuma, Dominican Republic | M5.8 | 142 km | 90 km |
| Jan 6, 2020 | 14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico | M5.8 | 73 km | 6 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 38 km SE of Boca de Yuma, Dominican Republic | M5.7 | 136 km | 168 km |
| Jun 24, 2025 | 77 km NNE of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | M5.7 | 137 km | 68 km |
| Jan 7, 2020 | 0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico | M5.6 | 59 km | 9 km |
| Jan 7, 2020 | 11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico | M5.6 | 75 km | 10 km |
| May 15, 2024 | 92 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | M5.6 | 96 km | 7 km |
| Feb 4, 2008 | Puerto Rico region | M5.5 | 65 km | 15 km |
| Dec 11, 2000 | 65 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico | M5.5 | 69 km | 53 km |
| May 2, 2020 | 6 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico | M5.4 | 70 km | 9 km |
| Nov 23, 1992 | 28 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | M5.3 | 32 km | 31 km |
| Jul 3, 2020 | 9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico | M5.3 | 64 km | 3 km |
| Jan 10, 2020 | 4 km S of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico | M5.2 | 63 km | 9 km |
| Jan 15, 2020 | Puerto Rico region | M5.2 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Jan 11, 2020 | 19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico | M5.2 | 78 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
24 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2025 | Erin | Category 4 | 144 mph | 237 km |
| 2024 | Ernesto | Category 1 | 75 mph | 159 km |
| 2022 | Fiona | Category 2 | 98 mph | 53 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 1 | 86 mph | 166 km |
| 2017 | Maria | Category 5 | 173 mph | 17 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 5 | 178 mph | 116 km |
| 2014 | Gonzalo | Category 3 | 115 mph | 283 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 48 km |
| 2010 | Earl | Category 4 | 132 mph | 201 km |
| 2008 | Omar | Category 3 | 109 mph | 280 km |
| 2004 | Frances | Category 4 | 144 mph | 247 km |
| 2004 | Jeanne | Category 1 | 81 mph | 98 km |
| 2000 | Debby | Category 1 | 75 mph | 90 km |
| 1999 | Lenny | Category 4 | 155 mph | 238 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 3 | 121 mph | 45 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 1 | 75 mph | 293 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 3 | 115 mph | 146 km |
| 1996 | Hortense | Category 2 | 86 mph | 45 km |
| 1995 | Luis | Category 4 | 144 mph | 291 km |
| 1995 | Marilyn | Category 3 | 115 mph | 138 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.1 m (20 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1918 | PUERTO RICO: MONA PASSAGE | Eruption + Earthquake | 6.1 m | 144 | 28 km |
| 2020 | PUERTO RICO | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 4 | 64 km |
| 1918 | PUERTO RICO | Earthquake | — | — | 15 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
4 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO (3,927 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | CAMPAMENTO SANTIAGO | 3,927 | 99 km |
| 2007 | UNNAMED | 3,896 | 98 km |
| 2005 | PISTA DE SALINAS CARR 3 | 1,137 | 96 km |
| 2007 | CARR 304 | 606 | 54 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 74°F (23°C) | 2.7 in | Driest |
| February | 74°F (23°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest |
| March | 75°F (24°C) | 3.5 in | |
| April | 76°F (24°C) | 5.1 in | |
| May | 78°F (25°C) | 8.8 in | Wettest |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 7.2 in | |
| July | 82°F (28°C) | 6.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 7.8 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 8.3 in | |
| October | 78°F (26°C) | 8.2 in | |
| November | 77°F (25°C) | 5.6 in | |
| December | 75°F (24°C) | 3.6 in |
Rafael Hernandez has a seasonal temperature swing of 8°F / from 74°F in February to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 69.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (8.8") and January the driest (2.7").