Maria was first designated Tropical Depression 14 on September 6 in the far eastern Atlantic.  By the following day the depression was upgraded and named Tropical Storm Maria at 1100 am AST, the 13th named storm of the season, while it was moving rapidly westward. At 11 pm AST on Thursday September 8 a tropical storm watch was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. At 5 am AST September 9 a tropical storm warning was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and at 11 am the warning was extended for Puerto Rico. Maximum winds in Maria remained between 40 mph and 50 mph for several days. On Sunday, September 11, an air force reconnaissance aircraft reported that it was becoming better organized, just 65 mi  northeast of Saint John Island. The U.S. Virgin Islands experienced breezy to windy conditions for 3 days while Maria was not far away, but not to a level of causing significant damage. The maximum winds recorded at locations where at least 25 mph. Rather than the large scale strong winds usually found in tropical storms the most intense wind on these islands often occurred during rain squalls, when showers force winds aloft to sink towards the surface. This caused the strongest sustained wind recorded during this event. The Saint Thomas airport recorded a maximum sustained southerly wind of 33 mph with gusts to 48 mph at 1 pm AST on September 12th, the rest of the  recorded winds across the U.S. Virgin Islands were of lesser strength.  On September 12 bands of heavy showers were developing in the moist ���tail��� of Maria, focusing mainly on the U.S. Virgin Islands. The slow movement of Maria, the moist tail being dragged along towards the south, and the mountain terrain of across Puerto Rico would prove to be a fateful combination, especially on the night of the 12th and morning of the 13th. Puerto Rico had devastating flooding rain for the third time in 6 weeks, following Tropical Storm Emily and Tropical Storm/Hurricane Irene, and after the extraordinarily rainy summer of 2011. Early on September 13 Maria was located north of the west end of Puerto Rico. There were developing rain bands that extended west to east, up the central mountain range in Puerto Rico, and also on the south side of the Luquillo Mountains at the eastern portion of the island. Most soils across Puerto Rico were already saturated from an extraordinarily wet summer including rain from two other tropical storms in the previous 6 weeks. Rain became the major problem as Maria became almost stationary on September 13. Rainfall accumulations were between 4 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts of up to 10 inches. The hardest hit communities were on the southern slopes of Puerto Rico including the communities along the larger rivers with headwaters in the south and south central sections of the island.  Larger river basins such as the Rio de la Plata, Rio Grande de Loiza, Rio Grande de Arecibo and Rio Grande de Manati and their tributaries showed significant rises with minor to moderate flooding reported.  The smaller basins along the southern slopes experienced flash flooding with the high intensity rainfall.  Residents in the communities of Juana Diaz, Salinas and Ponce experienced some of the highest flows of the past few years especially on Rivers Toa Vaca and Jacaguas. The tropical storm warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico was discontinued at 11 am AST on September 10. Around 15,600 residents were without commercial power.

Flash Flood in YABUCOA, PUERTO RICO
From 12-SEP-11 21:25:00 to 13-SEP-11 07:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: YABUCOA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Road 901 was reported flooded in the municipality of Yabucoa.

Flash Flood in JUANA DIAZ, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 12:01:00 to 13-SEP-11 20:45:00 (AST-4)
Location: JUANA DIAZ
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several homes were flooded with mud and water in the communities of Manzanilla and Aruz when Lake Guayabal gates opened. Roads PR 1 and 149 where rendered impassable. Flooding was also reported at Plaza Mall Juana Diaz, Barriada Frazer, and sevral other neighborhoods like Del Carmen, Parcelas Guayabal, , and at Hermanos Santiago. Thirteen persons were in shelters due to the floods.

Flood in PATILLAS, PUERTO RICO
From 12-SEP-11 16:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 16:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: PATILLAS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flood waters covered many sections of Patillas municipality. Two low crossing bridges at Barrio Marin, Los Barros sector collapsed, and several homes were isolated. Another bridge collapsed at Barrio Cacaboa, Los Pompos sector isolating eight homes, and at Barrio Icacos La Mula sector. Rivers Marin, Providencia and Los Pollos were reported out of their banks, flooding seven homes in the Providencia neighborhood.

Flash Flood in COAMO, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 12:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 20:45:00 (AST-4)
Location: COAMO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Roads PR 155 and 555 were reported flooded. Eight persons were relocated to shelters.

Heavy Rain in CEIBA, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 06:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 16:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: CEIBA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy rains forced eight residents to be relocated to shelters. A segment of Highway 3 was damaged by rains and mudslides.

Flood in YABUCOA, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 01:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 07:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: YABUCOA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Around 150 homes were flooded at the Jardines de Yabucoa neighborhood.

Flash Flood in NAGUABO, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 17:24:00 to 13-SEP-11 17:45:00 (AST-4)
Location: NAGUABO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A 60 year old women drove her car into a flooded segment of road 31. Her vehicle was dragged by the current but she was able to get out, becoming trapped in some bushes where she was later rescued. River Rio Blanco overflowed its banks along road 31. Highway 3 flooded from road 192 to the city bridge.

Heavy Rain in NAGUABO, PUERTO RICO
From 12-SEP-11 18:03:00 to 12-SEP-11 19:03:00 (AST-4)
Location: NAGUABO
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rains led to urban roadway flooding along parts of Highway 53 between Naguabo and Ceiba.

Heavy Rain in CEIBA, PUERTO RICO
From 12-SEP-11 17:50:00 to 12-SEP-11 19:50:00 (AST-4)
Location: CEIBA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rains lead to urban and roadway flooding along Highway 3 and 53 near Puerto del Rey and Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba.

Flash Flood in FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 13:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 17:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: FAJARDO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

River Fajardo overflowed its banks along Highway 3 and PR 53 between Fajardo and Ceiba.

Flash Flood in FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 13:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 17:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: FAJARDO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Road 982 at Barrio Demajagua between Fajardo and Ceiba was reported flooded.

Flash Flood in FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 13:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 17:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: FAJARDO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Localized flooding was reported along Conquistador Avenue, General Valero Avenue, San Pedro and Veve Calzada neighborhood, and Marcelito Gotay Avenue. Road 976 at Barrio Naranjo flooded.

Heavy Rain in BARRANQUITAS, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 09:00:00 to 13-SEP-11 12:00:00 (AST-4)
Location: BARRANQUITAS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Localized flooding was reported along road 167, Barrio Palo Hincado, Pinones sector.

Heavy Rain in HORMIGUEROS, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 07:31:00 to 13-SEP-11 11:31:00 (AST-4)
Location: HORMIGUEROS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Localized flooding was reported at las Bovedas Street in the Lavadero sector of Hormigueros.

Heavy Rain in PONCE, PUERTO RICO
From 13-SEP-11 11:11:00 to 13-SEP-11 16:13:00 (AST-4)
Location: PONCE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Localized flooding was reported at Principal Street, Buyones Abajo community in Ponce.