page_title: Tropical Depression Fifteen (1970)
hierarchical_section_title: Tropical Depression Fifteen (1970)
caption_attribution_description: English: Satellite image of a tropical depression affecting Puerto Rico in October 1970
context_page_description: Tropical Depression Fifteen in 1970 was the wettest known tropical cyclone to affect the United States territory of Puerto Rico. The long-lived depression formed on September 24 just off the west coast of Africa, and for several days maintained a general westward track. It passed through the Lesser Antilles on October 1, and later stalled in the eastern Caribbean Sea. On October 8, the depression crossed over the Dominican Republic, and subsequently it accelerated to the northeast. It was declassified as a tropical cyclone on October 12, although its remnants persisted for another week before dissipating in the westerlies near the Azores.
  The depression produced heavy rainfall in the Lesser Antilles, reaching 12 in on Barbados; it left three deaths and moderate damage on the island. Another death was reported in the United States Virgin Islands. Torrential rainfall on Puerto Rico inflicted heavy damage, totaling $65 million. The highest precipitation total was 41.68 in in Jayuya, of which 17 in fell in a 24‑hour period. Most of the damage can be attributed to damaged sugar cane and coffee crops.
context_section_description: Tropical Depression Fifteen in 1970 was the wettest known tropical cyclone to affect the United States territory of Puerto Rico. The long-lived depression formed on September 24 just off the west coast of Africa, and for several days maintained a general westward track. It passed through the Lesser Antilles on October 1, and later stalled in the eastern Caribbean Sea. On October 8, the depression crossed over the Dominican Republic, and subsequently it accelerated to the northeast. It was declassified as a tropical cyclone on October 12, although its remnants persisted for another week before dissipating in the westerlies near the Azores.
  The depression produced heavy rainfall in the Lesser Antilles, reaching 12 in (300 mm) on Barbados; it left three deaths and moderate damage on the island. Another death was reported in the United States Virgin Islands. Torrential rainfall on Puerto Rico inflicted heavy damage, totaling $65 million (1970 USD, $402 million 2019 USD). The highest precipitation total was 41.68 in (1,059 mm) in Jayuya, of which 17 in (430 mm) fell in a 24‑hour period. Most of the damage can be attributed to damaged sugar cane and coffee crops. At least 18 people were killed on the island, and the system was considered one of the worst disasters in Puerto Rican history.
caption: Satellite image of the depression south of Puerto Rico
exif: {}