{{A series of major storms have hit Puerto Rico over the last few weeks, destroying hundreds of homes, sweeping away cars and leaving tens of thousands of people without power.}}<\/p>\n
The US island territory is used to tropical weather, but this year Puerto Rico has seen the rainiest July ever recorded, with 35cm so far drenching the capital San Juan.<\/p>\n
People fled homes and cars as water rushed through doors and windows.<\/p>\n
Rising floodwaters stranded drivers on highways. Some commuters were forced to use kayaks and paddle boards.<\/p>\n
The storms have severely damaged about 500 houses and caused about $1.5m in losses, according to initial estimates, Carmen Yulin Cruz, San Juan’s mayor, said.<\/p>\n
The territory is just over two months into a seven-month rainy season, and it is already the second wettest start of the year for the region, even though no major tropical storm or hurricane has hit.<\/p>\n
Nearly 127cm of rain have fallen so far, and more is likely on the way.<\/p>\n
Other wet years<\/p>\n
Remnants of Tropical Storm Dorian were projected to move through the Caribbean, north of the island, by Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The deluge follows hard on a string of other wet years.<\/p>\n
The rainiest year on record was 2010, when 227.33cm fell.<\/p>\n
The island’s totals have been trending upward, in part because of warmer ocean temperatures and frequent occurrences of the weather phenomenon known as La Nina, which leads to a more active hurricane season, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n
Nearby Cuba has been drenched as well.<\/p>\n
Authorities reported that June was the wettest on record for the western part of the island.<\/p>\n
In the first six days of that month alone, 42.16cm of rain fell, 188 percent of the historic average for the full month, with isolated accumulations as high as 55.88cm. <\/p>\n
Hundreds of homes were flooded along with croplands, highways and tobacco leaf-curing buildings in the western province of Pinar del Rio, known as the cradle of Cuba’s tobacco industry.<\/p>\n
Source: Agencies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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