Hurricane Hugo - Luquillo, Puerto Rico - September 18, 1989

This is my Hurricane Hugo chase video. The footage was taken during Hugo's landfall on the northeast tip of Puerto Rico at Luquillo. In my 25 years of hurricane chasing, this remains, overall, the best footage I have ever been fortunate enough to capture. Though I have been in stronger hurricanes, given that Hugo was a borderline category three/four and the strongest portion of the eyewall passed directly over my location (during daylight hours), I had the rare opportunity to document the full force of an intense hurricane at a direct coastal location. Though significant damage begins about 8 minutes into the video, the peak winds occur between 10 through 21 minutes in, and are sustained near 130mph with gusts to 150-160mph. An anemometer on the island of Culebra (just offshore Eastern Puerto Rico) reported a peak gust of 170mph when the same portion of the eyewall passed over that location a couple of hours prior to reaching Luquillo.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Brenda Jimenez]

Por favor quita la linea roja para ver mejor el video. Gracias!

[vmax135]

Hi, Brenda. Thanks for the comment, the red line is a link to a higher quality version of my video. By clicking on it you will be taken directly to that video and there will be no red line blocking the view.

[123456789hurricane]

What was that sound from 14:53 to 17:59, and why there was a flashing bulb at 14:57

[vmax135]

The constant wailing you're hearing is the sound of the wind from inside the building. The flashing light was a result of the emergency power in the building failing, probably because of water getting into the generator.

[David Sul]

The long version is better IMO.because you get the full appreciation of the event as it unfolds. The gradual increase in windspeed lets you see just how strong it gets and every second of the strongest wind is important for the full effect.. The difference in quality between the two versions is not significant enough to really matter. This vodeo rocks. It is the best footage I have ever seen. Thanks for posting it.

[vmax135]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video... Hugo was an absolutely unbelievable experience. When I originally posted this video, YouTube allowed "director" accounts to upload clips of any length. Unfortunately, by the time I had the remastered version, they had restricted all video uploads to ten minutes or less. Thanks again for the comment!

[juanpr37]

excelente video. Pienso que en vez de juzgar leguajes o formas de comunicacion se tuvo los pantalones en ese momento de grabar un video para exponer la catastrofe que causo este huracan... (Consejo) no se fijen en si dijo (Yellow) o Amariiiilllouuuuu, al final de el dia las personas que grabaron esto tuvieron los pantalones de estar despiertos toda la noche y en lamadrugada de este dia>>>>....

[rbutler89]

Probably the best hurricane footage ever filmed..

[Fred Thompson]

Mike' is there a way you and your team could "digit;y remaster" this long vershion of hurricane Hugo? knowing how 1989 video tecnology was just standard 420pix and vhs tape. thanks' you make the best coverage.

[tiraccoon75]

I remember Hugo on Guadeloupe!!! sound of wind !! Eye of Hugo passed on my house from 01.25am till 02.10am. ( 17th of September!!) My house was situed near le raizet airport in Guadeloupe!!! winds debuted at 05.00 pm (16th of September) and stopped at 01.00pm (17th of September)! Wind was very impressive for me at 09.30 pm (16th of September) an very incredible a 11.00pm( 16th of sepptember).

[steven01mvp]

At 7:57 comes like a weird man on a building can you explain me that please.

[dwight faraon]

its my bday when hurricane hugo hit and im 5.

[SN3RD1]

I remember this Hurricane, it was my first year moving to San Lorenzo,PR...I was about 9yrs old and I was terrified. Wanted to come back to NY asap! lol

[BlueJuan85]

ahh Yes Hurricane Hugo I was 4 yrs old at the time but I still remembered it. I was at my grandmother's house with the rest of the family. I lived in Ponce, PR it was absolutely intense.

[Daymack]

Sad, but Interesting footage of nature's power and fury! thanks for uploading

[Pedro Bonilla Bello]

23 años!