


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
790 FXCA62 TJSJ 011822 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 222 PM AST Mon Sep 1 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * Residents and visitors in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico can expect heat index values above 102 degrees Fahrenheit through much of the workweek, which could exacerbate heat- related illnesses and symptoms. * Beachgoers in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will observe a low risk of rip currents through at least Saturday. * Strong afternoon thunderstorms will develop each day across portions of PR and in the form of streamers downwind from the USVI. * The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave near Africa, which has a low chance (10 percent) of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours and a moderate chance (50 percent) within the next 7 days. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Wednesday Another warm day when the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico weather network detected heat index values mainly between 105 and 111 degrees Fahrenheit after mid-morning into the afternoon. Skies were mostly clear early in the morning, slowly turning partly cloudy to mostly cloudy at some locations, due to orographic effects and excessive heating. Afternoon convection developed downwind from St Croix into the surrounding waters and from La Sierra de Luquillo into the San Juan Metropolitan areas. Additionally, we noted thunderstorms developing along and west of the Cordillera Central. Winds were mainly from the east-southeast at 10 to 15 mph, with higher gusts and fluctuations due to sea breezes. The potential for strong afternoon convection is present in the region due to the proximity of a mid-to-upper-level trough, combined with local effects and diurnal heating. Thus, expect periods of downpours producing localized flooding, frequent lightning, and gusty winds through this evening for the western parts of PR. In contrast, the US Virgin Islands will experience a mixture of clouds and mostly clear skies, with a warm to hot rest of the afternoon, followed by above-normal overnight temperatures, accompanied by the arrival of some isolated, occasional showers. On Tuesday, a surface disturbance is expected to bring more frequent showers across the US Virgin Islands and eastern PR around sunrise and the morning of Tuesday. As it interacts with a mid-to-upper-level trough, we can expect the enhancement of afternoon convection, which could result in an elevated risk of flooding rains. Meanwhile, a similar weather pattern to today is likely to return on Wednesday. .LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 356 AM AST Mon Sep 1 2025/ The long term forecast starts with a variable pattern across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. At the surface, from Thursday through Friday, weather conditions will be dominated by high pressure over the central Atlantic, promoting an east- southeast wind flow across the region. This pattern will allow patches of tropical moisture with precipitable water values ranging from 1.70 to 1.90 inches to stream across the islands. As a result, variable conditions are expected during the mornings, followed by the development of afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the interior and northwest Puerto Rico, where the combination of sea breeze convergence and daytime heating will enhance convective development. Isolated thunderstorms cannot be ruled out across the Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico. By late Friday and continuing into the weekend, an upper-level trough near 250 mb will increase instability across the region, favoring stronger convection with frequent lightning, gusty winds, and periods of heavy rainfall. As the weekend progresses, a tropical wave will further enhance the moisture field across the islands from Saturday into Sunday, resulting in more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity. Rainfall is expected to begin early in the morning hours on Saturday, becoming more active and widespread during the afternoon over much of Puerto Rico, with isolated thunderstorms likely elsewhere. This activity may lead to an increased risk of urban and small stream flooding, especially in areas that experience the heaviest rainfall. By late Sunday into Monday, drier air is forecast to filter into the region as upper-level high pressure erodes the trough aloft. This will promote greater stability, warmer mid-level temperatures near 500 mb, and a noticeable reduction in shower frequency, with mainly localized afternoon showers expected over western Puerto Rico while the Virgin Islands experience fair weather conditions. && .AVIATION... (18z TAFs) Mostly VFR conds across all terminals, with possible VCSH over ISX and IST and VCTS for JSJ and JPS this aftn. -TSRA/+TSRA is likely for JBQ btwn 01/18-01/21z, with CIGs/VIS reducing and tempo MVFR/IFR conds. SE winds btwn 11 - 15 kt will continue through 01/23z, with gusts up to 20 - 22 kt over JSJ, JPS, and JBQ, reducing to 3 - 6 kt. Winds should increase to 10 - 15 kt by 02/12 - 02/14z. && .MARINE... A surface high pressure over the central Atlantic and a surface trough will continue to result in moderate to locally fresh east to southeasterly winds across the local waters, producing moderate chops to localized choppy seas. Seas will remain up to 5 feet across the Atlantic offshore waters and even lower across the coastal waters. For the upcoming weekend, the arrival of a tropical wave is expected to increase the frequency of showers and thunderstorms, potentially resulting in localized hazardous marine conditions. && .BEACH FORECAST... The risk of rip currents will remain low in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands through at least Saturday. Be aware that thunderstorms may impact the western and northern regions of Puerto Rico through this evening. Although the overall risk of rip currents is expected to remain low during the forecast period, isolated but stronger rip currents may occur in specific areas, especially near piers, jetties, and channels. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...Heat Advisory until 5 PM AST this afternoon for PRZ001>005-007- 008-010>013. VI...Heat Advisory until 5 PM AST this afternoon for VIZ001-002. AM...None. && $$ MORNING CREW...CAM/MNG EVENING CREW...ICP/YZR