Hurricanes hit Puerto Rico more often than South Florida, according to this Sun Sentinel article.
Puerto Rico is 400 miles closer to the equator than South Florida, it tends to be hotter, at least at lower elevations. The average annual high temperature in San Juan is about 87 degrees, compared to about 84 in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Similar to South Florida, it has rainy and dry seasons, although the rainy season is longer there, extending from April through November.
The island also has frequent encounters with hurricanes, which account for about 25 percent of the total annual rainfall.
Hurricanes on average hit Puerto Rico about once every three years, compared to once every five to six years in South Florida. And many of the hurricanes that rough up the island go on to strike South Florida.
In the news: Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to make a direct hit on Puerto Rico in almost a century, ravaged the island, knocking out all electricity, deluging towns with flashfloods and mudslides and compounding the already considerable pain of residents. Get the full report at NYTimes.com.
Hurricanes are strong storms that can be life-threatening. Feel better prepared for one with these safety and recovery tips from the American Red Cross.