National Weather Service San Juan PR
501 AM AST Fri Mar 13 2020
.SYNOPSIS...A weak low forming northeast of the forecast area
induced by the passage of a long wave upper trough today will
cause north to northeast flow to persist through much of the next
week. This will bring some intermittent shower activity to the
islands with the best rainfall on the windward slopes and the
northern U.S. Virgin Islands. A second, though weaker upper level
trough will cause a similar enhancement of shower activity
Thursday and Friday of next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Sunday...
A mid to upper level trough with its axis located just west of
the islands will continue to provide instability aloft on Friday.
At the surface, moisture associated with an inverted trough to the
northeast will begin to advance into the region. Groups of clouds
and showers are expected to move across portions of eastern
Puerto Rico and over the U.S. Virgin Islands during the morning
hours, with isolated thunderstorms possible over the waters. In
the afternoon, due to a combination of local effects, the
available moisture and the instability, showers are expected to
develop across the interior and western Puerto Rico, with
additional activity possible near the San Juan metro area.
Additionally, 500 mb temperatures will remain at -10 to -9
degrees, hence, expect isolated thunderstorms to develop as well.
And, in fact, thunderstorms have been active in the outer Atlantic
waters north of Isabela and Camuy early this morning. Afternoon
shower activity could be heavy at times and urban and small
stream flooding will be a possibility across western Puerto Rico
and in the Greater San Juan Metropolitan Area. As the inverted
trough begins to transition into a closed low northeast of the
islands late today, winds are expected to become more northeast.
The lingering shower activity could then shift southward, into
southwestern Puerto Rico later in the afternoon hours.
For the weekend, instability will decrease as the mid to upper level
trough moves toward the central North Atlantic. At the lower levels,
the northeast flow will persist, promoting a cool advective pattern
that will favor early shower generation, affecting the northern
sections of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while afternoon
convection should develop over the southwestern quadrant of the main
island. On Sunday, however, drier air is expected to filter in at
the lower levels, with precipitable water values forecast to drop
between 0.8 to 1.0 inches. As a result, expect mainly fair weather
conditions, with only occasional showers affecting the islands
during the overnight and early morning hours.
.LONG TERM...Monday through Saturday...
With the upper level trough now nearly dissipated and a long wave
trough well to our north, the low pressure that was well defined
to the northeast will open up and become an open wave that passes
through the area on Wednesday. By Friday another relatively
intense short wave will deepen as it moves through Hispaniola and
enhance shower formation and the possibility of thunderstorms.
High pressure at the surface Thursday and Friday will bring back
more northeasterly flow and the pattern of showers seen early in
the week. Currently the best moisture of the week is expected on
Thursday, but may also be repeated on the following Saturday.
&&
.AVIATION...Mainly VFR conditions are expected to prevail across all
terminals. VCSH are expected after 13/17Z at TJSJ and VCTS are
psbl aft 13/16Z, which could result in brief reduction in VIS and
MVFR conditions at these terminals. Winds will be out of the east
at 10 knots, shifting to the northeast by 14/00Z. Maximum winds
WSW 70-80 kts btwn FL380-470.
&&
.MARINE...Seas will continue to diminish today and Saturday, but seas
up to 7 feet are expected to reappear Saturday night in the outer
Atlantic waters as waves generated by winds around a developing
low to the northeast arrive in the local area.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 85 74 83 73 / 20 40 40 40
STT 83 73 84 72 / 30 30 30 20

