A hurricane named Fiona reached the southwest of Puerto Rico on Sunday as a Category 1 storm, bringing maximum sustained winds around 140 kilometers per hour (85 mph) and heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flooding and structural damage, prompting officials to label the event catastrophic.
Fiona had been a tropical storm earlier in the day but intensified as it neared Puerto Rico. Its eye moved near Punta Tocón at 15:20 local time (19:20 GMT), according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi acknowledged serious damage across the island, affecting both private residences and public infrastructure in a recent briefing.
Gilberto A. Ruiz, a resident of Cabo Rojo on the southwest coast where Fiona’s eye passed, described widespread flooding, numerous fallen trees, and roofs ripped off by the strong winds.
He noted that the hurricane initially delivered very strong winds, followed by a brief lull of about ten minutes, then a second, even more powerful phase as the storm moved on.
The NHC warned of very dangerous winds and a storm surge ranging from 30 to 90 centimeters (about 1 to 3 feet) that could flood coastal areas on the island’s east and south coasts. Rainfall was expected to be heavy, between 30 and 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches), with some spots receiving as much as 63 centimeters (25 inches).
Wind and rain had already affected Puerto Rico since the previous day, intensifying on the current day and causing power outages across the island.
Blackout can last for days
As a result of the severe weather, the electrical system suffered multiple interruptions along transmission lines. LUMA Energy, which oversees electricity transmission and distribution, reported ongoing outages via social media. The scale of the disruption led officials to warn that full restoration could take several days.
The Puerto Rico power grid has long been vulnerable, a legacy of past storms that strained the system and left large portions of the population in darkness for extended periods.
Many residents have relied on emergency generators or solar panels to maintain essentials where possible, though access to power remains uneven across buildings and neighborhoods.
In the metropolitan area of the Carolinas, residents connected to emergency outlets in some buildings. Reports indicate that connecting generators or rerouting power from one floor to another did not work consistently in some cases.
Flash floods and overflowing rivers
The National Meteorological Service initially warned of flash flooding risks in southeastern municipalities, then expanded the alert to cover nearly the entire region, including San Juan and the greater metropolitan area.
Sylvette Almodóvar, a Lajas resident in the south, described flooding at her home due to persistent rains. The flooding forced people to contend with rising water for an extended period.
Officials noted that Fiona’s impact on communities near the cyclone’s path was severe, with comparisons drawn to past storms. Local residents recalled earlier events, including Hurricane Maria in 2017, which reached Category 5 and caused lasting devastation.
Winds damaged trees and properties in Sabana Grande and surrounding areas, affecting families along Highway 120 that connects Sabana Grande and Maricao, according to local authorities. The route was impeded by fallen branches and blocked roads.
Rivers across the island—Portugués and Cerrillos in Ponce, Río Grande in Loíza, Guayanés near Peñuelas and Yabucoa—overran their banks, contributing to widespread flooding.
A modular bridge in Utuado collapsed during Fiona’s passage, causing significant damage to road networks across central Puerto Rico.
More than a thousand people in shelters
Officials identified communities at risk near rivers and flood-prone zones and advised residents to move to higher ground or to established shelters.
Government data show more than 1,000 people have taken shelter across 105 facilities. The country maintains a network of shelters with the capacity to host tens of thousands, helping manage the displacement of residents during the crisis.
Across the island, airports and ports were closed due to the storm, with all flight operations suspended from Saturday until further notice. The island’s primary international airport remained closed as the situation developed.
Authorities declared a state of emergency while coordinating with federal partners to secure broader relief efforts. The timing of Fiona’s arrival came only days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which had a devastating impact on Puerto Rico and its people.