Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
418 FXCA62 TJSJ 150825 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 425 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 * A pre-frontal trough will enhance light winds and moisture across the islands, increasing the potential for afternoon showers. * An increase in showers and thunderstorms is expected tomorrow, particularly across the interior and northern parts of Puerto Rico, including the San Juan metropolitan area. * For the U.S. Virgin Islands, a variable weather pattern will persist today and tomorrow with periods of brief passing showers. * There is a moderate risk of rip currents for the north-facing coastal areas of the islands. && .Short Term(Today through Monday)... Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 Overnight, mainly calm weather conditions prevailed across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A few showers developed over the waters but accumulations remained low. Minimum temperatures stayed in the low 80s across urban and coastal areas, while the higher terrain cooled into the upper 60s to mid-70s. Winds were generally from the east, becoming variable at times, with speeds around 5 to 10 mph. For the weekend, the latest model guidance indicates relative humidity and precipitable water values near normal, along with a weakening mid to upper level trough east of the area as a deep polar trough over the western Atlantic shifts into the central Atlantic. By today (Saturday), winds will become lighter or even variable, allowing afternoon convection to develop and spread over a broader portion of the islands. These weak steering winds will cause showers and thunderstorms to move slowly, increasing their potential to regenerate and produce widespread rainfall. As the deep-layer trough moves closer to the region from Saturday into Sunday with its greatest influence expected from Saturday evening through Sunday evening it will cool the mid-levels to below-normal values, enhancing instability and allowing deeper moisture to build through the column. As a result, elevated flooding risk remains possible, particularly for Puerto Rico from this afternoon onwards. By the end of the weekend, a high-pressure system will position itself north of the area, allowing winds to become more east-southeasterly. On Monday, a low-pressure system will approach the region from the southeast, allowing precipitable water values to remain near the 50th percentile, or near-normal levels for this time of year. We encourage residents and visitors to continue monitoring the forecast for potential impacts in their area. && .Long Term(Tuesday through Saturday)... Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 During early Tuesday into early Wednesday, the islands will be mainly influenced by a surface high pressure over the central Atlantic, resulting in mostly east-southeasterly winds. Embedded within this wind flow are patches of trapped tropical moisture with precipitable water values between 1.4 and 1.6 inches. Although this moisture will be present and concentrated near 850 MB, drier conditions are expected from 500 to 250 MB due to a stable weather pattern. Global models suggest this setup will bring some showers across the U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico at times, followed by afternoon convection over western Puerto Rico. Since the available moisture is expected to remain shallow, rainfall should be only locally heavy, with a low probability of urban or small-stream flooding. A more stable and drier weather pattern is forecast from late Thursday into Friday. A broad and strengthening surface high pressure system exiting the eastern coast of the United States and extending into the central Atlantic will establish a northeasterly wind flow across the region. This shift in the wind pattern will transport a drier and cooler air mass over the islands, limiting shower development and improving overall weather conditions. This shift will also support a cold-advection pattern mainly across the local northern waters. According to the 925 MB temperature fields, temperatures are expected to decrease across the islands. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 Mainly VFR conditions prevailing across TAF sites during the morning hours. After 15/16-17Z, intermittent periods of MVFR conds are possible due to VCTS or TSRA across TJSJ, TJPS, and TJBQ resulting in lower ceilings, brief higher winds, and reduced visibilities. After 15/23Z, VFR conditions are expected to prevail, but periods of VCSH cannot be ruled out at most TAF sites. Expect variable winds mainly below 8 knots, becoming even more calm tonight. && .MARINE... Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 A frontal boundary and the associated pre-frontal trough located north of the islands will continue to result in a light to gentle easterly wind flow across the local islands. For today, surface winds are expected to become more from the east-southeast later today into Sunday as a weak surface high establishes north of the region. Therefore, mariners can expect surface winds up to 10 knots with seas up to 5 feet and up to 4 feet along the coastal waters in the Atlantic, and even lower across the Caribbean Sea. && .BEACH FORECAST... Issued at 402 AM AST Sat Nov 15 2025 There is a moderate risk of rip currents across the northern, exposed local beaches, and a low risk of rip currents across the southern coastal areas. Although conditions are suitable for beachgoers, visitors, and residents are urged to be aware of other coastal hazards, including afternoon lightning in the western sections of Puerto Rico. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...MMC LONG TERM & MARINE....LIS AVIATION...YZR