Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Río Grande zona urbana has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 75°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 352 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 51.9 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 65 feet.
Temperature
75°F Jan (24°C)82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
79.0°F
46% above US avg
January Average
75°F (24°C)
July Average
82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
352 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
65 ft (20 m)
Area
1.4 sq mi (3.6 km²)
Population Density
8,931/sq mi
Coordinates
18.3789°N, 65.8389°W
Timezone
America/Puerto_Rico
County
Río Grande Municipio County
Nearest Airport
Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU) 11 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall51.9"
37% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (May)7.28"
Driest Month (Feb)2.68"
Air Quality
AQI Median
21.0
Rating
Good
Earthquake History
22,630 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
126 km
20 km
Jan 7, 2020
4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico
M6.4
113 km
6 km
Oct 17, 2001
112 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M6.0
144 km
33 km
Jan 11, 2020
5 km SE of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.9
117 km
5 km
May 16, 2010
4 km E of Moca, Puerto Rico
M5.8
130 km
113 km
Jan 6, 2020
14 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.8
118 km
6 km
Jan 7, 2020
11 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.6
108 km
10 km
Jan 7, 2020
0 km NW of Magas Arriba, Puerto Rico
M5.6
107 km
9 km
Oct 16, 2001
112 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
M5.6
148 km
33 km
Feb 4, 2008
Puerto Rico region
M5.5
133 km
15 km
May 2, 2020
6 km S of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico
M5.4
106 km
9 km
Aug 1, 1993
68 km SSE of Emajagua, Puerto Rico
M5.3
110 km
25 km
Nov 23, 1992
28 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico
M5.3
146 km
31 km
Jul 3, 2020
9 km SSE of La Parguera, Puerto Rico
M5.3
134 km
3 km
Jan 15, 2020
Puerto Rico region
M5.2
135 km
5 km
Jan 11, 2020
19 km S of Indios, Puerto Rico
M5.2
118 km
10 km
Jan 10, 2020
4 km S of Maria Antonia, Puerto Rico
M5.2
121 km
9 km
Mar 12, 2009
66 km N of Brenas, Puerto Rico
M5.1
95 km
15 km
Sep 6, 2004
122 km NNE of Vieques, Puerto Rico
M5.1
127 km
14 km
Aug 14, 2009
92 km N of Suárez, Puerto Rico
M5.1
99 km
47 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
203 km
2024
Ernesto
Category 1
75 mph
222 km
2023
Tammy
Category 1
86 mph
275 km
2022
Fiona
Category 1
92 mph
129 km
2019
Dorian
Category 1
86 mph
68 km
2017
Maria
Category 5
173 mph
43 km
2017
Irma
Category 5
178 mph
74 km
2017
Jose
Category 4
132 mph
288 km
2014
Gonzalo
Category 3
115 mph
196 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
21 km
2010
Earl
Category 4
132 mph
147 km
2008
Omar
Category 4
132 mph
170 km
2004
Frances
Category 4
144 mph
225 km
2004
Jeanne
Category 1
81 mph
229 km
2000
Debby
Category 1
75 mph
66 km
1999
Lenny
Category 4
155 mph
155 km
1999
Jose
Category 1
75 mph
218 km
1998
Georges
Category 3
121 mph
31 km
1996
Bertha
Category 3
115 mph
78 km
1996
Hortense
Category 1
81 mph
111 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
96 km
0.4 mi
0
Aug 30, 1974
EF1
22 km
2.0 mi
0
May 5, 1969
EF1
29 km
1.5 mi
0
Mar 16, 2023
EF0
23 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 30, 2019
EF0
33 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 26, 2017
EF0
20 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 18, 2016
EF0
68 km
0.6 mi
0
Aug 25, 2000
EF0
54 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 23, 2000
EF0
24 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 8, 1999
EF0
26 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 8, 1996
EF0
99 km
0.2 mi
0
May 1, 1995
EF0
29 km
—
0
Oct 7, 1969
EF0
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 28, 1959
EF0
97 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
91 km
1918
PUERTO RICO: MONA PASSAGE
Eruption + Earthquake
6.1 m
144
147 km
1868
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Earthquake
1.5 m
—
84 km
2020
PUERTO RICO
Earthquake
0.1 m
4
113 km
1918
PUERTO RICO
Earthquake
—
—
145 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
60 km
2007
UNNAMED
3,896
60 km
2005
UNNAMED
1,888
57 km
2005
PISTA DE SALINAS CARR 3
1,137
65 km
2005
UNNAMED
725
56 km
2013
PUERTO NEGRO
631
58 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
75°F (24°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
February
75°F (24°C)
2.7 in
Driest
March
76°F (25°C)
3.0 in
April
78°F (25°C)
4.6 in
May
80°F (26°C)
7.3 in
Wettest
June
81°F (27°C)
5.3 in
July
82°F (28°C)
5.5 in
Warmest
August
81°F (27°C)
6.9 in
September
81°F (27°C)
6.8 in
October
80°F (27°C)
7.2 in
November
79°F (26°C)
7.0 in
December
76°F (25°C)
5.5 in
Río Grande zona urbana has a seasonal temperature swing of 7°F / from 75°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 65.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (7.3") and February the driest (2.7").