Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
530 FXCA62 TJSJ 040741 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 341 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, BEACH FORECAST... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 * An increase in cloudiness and moisture will continue to result in showers across eastern sections of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the morning hours, followed by afternoon convection along the western interior. * Slightly warmer daytime temperatures will persist over the islands, surpassing seasonal normals, especially in urban and coastal areas. * Improving weather conditions are forecast from Saturday into the upcoming workweek due to a more stable pattern. * There is a moderate risk of rip currents across all northern coastal areas, including St. Thomas and St. Croix. && .Short Term(Today through Saturday)... Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 Overnight weather conditions remained mostly calm under mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Doppler radar detected a few quick-moving, passing showers mainly across portions of eastern and northern Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which resulted in minimal accumulations. Minimum temperatures were observed in the low to mid 60s along the central mountain range of Puerto Rico and in the low to mid 70s across the lower elevations of the islands. Winds were light and variable throughout the night. Today, a surface trough will continue to approach the local area from the east, increasing the frequency of showers from this morning into the late afternoon hours. The forecast remains on track, with the bulk of the moisture associated with this trough remaining south of the region. However, due to its proximity, there is an enhanced chance for moderate to heavy showers and a few isolated thunderstorms across the islands. Consequently, there is a limited to elevated risk of excessive rainfall, particularly over portions of central and southwestern Puerto Rico during the afternoon. From Friday into Saturday, weather conditions are expected to improve as a mid-to-upper level ridge builds from the west, promoting the intrusion of drier air and more stable conditions aloft. Nonetheless, locally induced afternoon showers cannot be ruled out, mainly over central and western Puerto Rico. This pattern will likely extend into early next week, bringing limited showers and great weather conditions for those early Christmas festivities across the islands during the weekend. Seasonal temperatures will prevail across the region during the next few days, ranging from the mid to upper 80s along the lower elevations of the islands and from the upper 70s to low 80s along the central mountain range of Puerto Rico. && .Long Term(Sunday through Thursday)... Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 The long-term forecast remains on track. A strong mid to upper- level ridge will be the main weather feature, mainly resulting in a stable weather pattern during the period. At 500 MB, temperatures in the -5 to -6 degree range and the 850 to 700 MB lapse rate, two standard deviations from the climatological values, will limit vertical development. Although very stable conditions will prevail, a strong surface high pressure over the Central Atlantic will drag patches of trapped moisture at 850 MB. According to the global model guidance, precipitable water values associated with the moisture patches will range from 1.4 to 1.6 inches, close to the climatological normals. Therefore, in the afternoon, brief passing showers are possible due to diurnal heating and local effects. On Sunday, surface winds will remain mostly from the east as the surface high pressure remains in the Central Atlantic. Veering winds are forecast from Monday onwards as the surface high pressure builds further into the Central and Eastern Atlantic. Since the surface winds will remain east-southeasterly and plenty of sunshine will be present due to the lack of instability, daytime temperatures will remain just slightly above seasonal levels across the islands. According to the global model guidance, 925 MB temperatures suggest warmer conditions from Monday onwards, with Tuesday the warmest day of the long term. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 Mainly VFR conds across all terminals during the fcst period. The proximity of a surface trough will result in an increase in SHRA/- TSRA today, and promoting VCSH at TJSJ/TIST/TISX aft 04/13Z. Afternoon convection will lead to VCTS at TJPS/TJBQ aft 04/17Z. Winds will remain from the E-NE at 5 to 8 kt thru 04/13Z, increasing between 10 to 14 kt thru 04/23Z, with occasional higher gusts near the strongest shower activity. && .MARINE... Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 An induced surface trough just east of the islands will continue to result in showers and thunderstorms across eastern local waters. These showers will result in localized hazardous marine conditions. On Friday, the islands will be dominated mainly by an extending surface high pressure under moderate easterly winds, resulting in seas up to 5 feet. Global model guidance suggests energy from a northerly swell arriving in the northern offshore Atlantic waters, probably resulting in high seas and hazardous marine conditions. && .BEACH FORECAST... Issued at 340 AM AST Thu Dec 4 2025 An induced surface trough just east of the islands will continue to result in showers and thunderstorms across the eastern coastal areas during the morning hours today, and then across the western side due to the afternoon showers.There is a low to moderate risk of rip currents across the northern and northeastern coastal areas of Puerto Rico, Culebra, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM & AVIATION...GRS LONG TERM, MARINE & BEACH FORECAST....LIS