Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
775 FXCA62 TJSJ 081658 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 1258 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, BEACH FORECAST... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1225 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 * Marine and beach conditions will deteriorate by the second part of the workweek due to the combination of a long period northerly swell and increasing winds. Expect choppy to rough seas and life-threatening rip currents. * Winds will increase late in the week, leading to breezy to windy conditions across coastal and elevated areas by midweek. Lightweight outdoor items may be blown around in exposed locations. * For Puerto Rico, showers are expected during the night and early morning hours across the east/southeastern portions. Over west/northwest PR, afternoon showers are expected each day. * For the U.S. Virgin Islands, passing showers are very likely during the nights and early morning hours. && .Short Term(This evening through Wednesday)... Issued at 1225 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 Mostly sunny skies were observed during the morning hours across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Partly cloudy skies were observed early in the afternoon hours over the USVI. Little to no rainfall activity was detected over land areas during the day, but showers are expected to increase over portions of the islands this afternoon. Maximum temperatures were in the low 90s across the northern coast of PR, and in the upper 80s across the rest of the coastal areas of the islands. The wind was from the southeast between 10 and 15 mph with sea breeze variations along the northern coast of PR. For the rest of the short-term period, a mid-to upper-level ridge will continue to build just northeast of the local area, providing somewhat stable conditions aloft. However, today was the driest day of the period, as a weak upper level trough pressing over the ridge will create some weakness west of the region. This will allow for columnar moisture to increase gradually during the next few days, but particularly on Wednesday, when precipitable water content is expected to peak just under 2 inches, which is above seasonal levels. Winds will turn more southeasterly as the surface high pressure continues to gradually build over the Azores late in the period. Moisture content is expected to peak each night, favoring shower activity over the windward areas of the islands, with afternoon showers expected each day over west/northwest PR. On Wednesday, there will be more moisture content and somewhat higher instability than previous days. This could lead to possible isolated thunderstorm development over western PR in the afternoon. && .Long Term(Thursday through next Sunday)... Issued at 357 AM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 No major changes were introduced to the forecast, as a broad mid- level ridge will dominate and promote mostly fair conditions and limited rainfall across the CWA. Moisture content will vary at times, as a broad surface high pressure moving over the Central Atlantic will bring patches of moisture, increasing the frequency of showers across the islands. Based on the deterministic guidance of the GFS and ECMWF, PWAT values will likely remain below normal (between 1.2 and 1.4 inches), with a low chance of near above climatological normal (up to 1.6 inches). Additionally, mid-level moisture RH is expected to plummet well below normal (down to 10%) while low to mid-level lapse rates shall remain seasonal to below normal (3 - 5 degrees Celsius per kilometer). In terms of instability, deep convection activity may be limited as 500 mb temperatures will likely be warmer than normal (between -5 and -6 degrees Celsius), as the presence of the mid-level ridge should promote stability aloft. A seasonal weather pattern is very likely over the period, with passing showers moving over windward sections and the U.S. Virgin Island streamers by noon, while daytime heating combined with local effects and available moisture should be enough for afternoon convection each day, particularly over the western and northwestern portions of Puerto Rico. Due to increasing winds, likely to promote breezy to locally windy conditions, showers should become more progressive and less stationary, reducing the chance of flooding. Although a lightning risk is not expected through the period, short-lived isolated thunderstorms cannot be ruled out, particularly by the end of the period. Under a southeasterly wind flow, warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected throughout the period, particularly during the day. Although isolated areas may reach heat indexes of 100 degrees Fahrenheit at low elevations on the islands, no heat threat is expected in the long-term forecast. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1225 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 Mainly VFR conditions expected across all terminals during the next 24 hours. However, -shra en route from the Windward Islands could move tonight over the USVI terminals. This may lead to brief MVFR cigs at TISX. The 08/12z TJSJ sounding indicated ESE winds up to 21 kt blo FL050. && .MARINE... Issued at 1225 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 A broad surface high pressure over the Central Atlantic will promote east to southeast moderate to locally fresh winds today, weakening and becoming moderate tonight. By midweek, strengthening surface high pressure north of the region will tighten the pressure gradient and increase winds, allowing seas to build across the Atlantic waters and exposed passages. Additionally, a long-period northerly swell arriving late Thursday night will further worsen conditions. Choppy to rough seas are expected, with Small Craft Advisories likely by the end of the workweek. A gradual improvement remains possible by the weekend as winds and swell ease. && .BEACH FORECAST... Issued at 1225 PM AST Mon Dec 8 2025 A moderare risk of rip currents will persist through at least Wednesday across most east/north facing beaches of the islands. The risk of life-threatening rip currents will increase from Thursday into the weekend due to the combination of a northerly long period swell and increasing wind-driven waves from the east. High Surf Advisories and Rip Current Statements will likely be issued for portions of the islands during that period. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...DSR LONG TERM/MARINE...MNG BEACH/AVIATION...DSR