National Weather Service San Juan PR
508 AM AST Wed Oct 16 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
Similar conditions to yesterday are expected again today; showers
and isolated thunderstorms are likely, especially during the
afternoon, and especially in western and interior Puerto Rico, as
well as the San Juan metro area. Potential impacts include a risk
of urban and small stream flooding, as well as mudslides in steep
terrain, with rains falling on already saturated soils. A
slightly drier airmass is expected to push through the area
tonight into tomorrow, but then to be followed quickly by a
tropical wave on Friday bringing renewed moisture, which is
forecast to last through the weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Friday...
Light winds and near normal moisture will continue across the region
today. The TUTT over the local area has strengthened and will be
over the local area today, maintaining good instability for the next
few days. However, forecast soundings are suggesting that the
overall instability for today will be similar to that recently
observed over the local area, which means that good convection could
occur over the local area, especially over Puerto Rico this
afternoon. For Thursday, the instability decreases, and so does the
moisture, possibly due to some Saharan dust moving in, but then
instability and moisture increases significantly on Friday,
particularly for the afternoon hours, as a tropical wave approaches
the local area.
The forecast for today is for mostly scattered showers with isolated
thunderstorms across the local waters, USVI, and eastern PR during
the rest of the morning. Afternoon thunderstorm activity over land
is expected across most of PR, including the San Juan metro, but the
south coastal sections have the lowest chance of significant
rainfall. The pattern today is still not too different to that
observed yesterday, in which we observed plenty of rain, for that
reason, at least some urban and small stream flooding as well as
rapid river rises are expected this afternoon. Given the saturated
soils across many areas, mud slides in areas of steep terrain and
localized flash flooding will not be ruled out.
For Thursday, the shower activity overnight should be isolated to
scattered as drier air moves in over the area, then some afternoon
convection is possible across central and western PR, but the
coverage and duration is expected to be more limited compared to
what we expect today. Then on Friday, the shower activity will
increase once again, especially for the afternoon hours as the
tropical wave approaches.
.LONG TERM...Saturday through Friday...
The tropical wave and its enhanced moisture will push through the
area into the weekend, with another small surge of moisture Sunday
afternoon anticipated. This will aid in the development of showers
due to orographic forcings and daytime heating Saturday and Sunday,
especially during the afternoons in western and interior Puerto
Rico.
Monday through Thursday, pockets of enhanced moisture will make
their way over the area from time to time. This increased moisture
is anticipated to aid in the development of showers and isolated
thunderstorms, especially over western and interior Puerto Rico
during the afternoons. Other portions of the local islands as well
as the surrounding waters will likely also see some of the
afternoon shower activity as well. During this time, a cutoff
upper- level low is expected to develop to the north/northwest of
Puerto Rico early in the week, then move generally to the south by
midweek, passing over or near the local islands. The current
expected trajectory of this feature takes it over or near western
portions of the region. In this scenario, there is the potential
for divergence aloft associated with this low to aid in convective
development over our forecast area Tuesday and/or Wednesday.
As we look towards the end of next week, increased moisture is
likely to be seen again, with another tropical wave forecast to make
its way into the area on Friday.
&&
.AVIATION...
SHRA activity expected today through the forecast period across the
local flying area. This will cause at least VCSH across most of the
local terminals for the next 24 hours. TSRA is expected over many
sectors of PR today, for that reason VCTS across all of the
terminals in PR is likely after 16/16Z. TEMPO MVFR conds at TJMZ and
TJBQ are possible. Local winds will be easterly at 10kt or less,
with sea breeze variations.
&&
.MARINE...
Relatively tranquil marine conditions will persist today,
with wave heights up to around 4 feet expected. Winds today will be
up to 10 knots, increasing tomorrow to around 10-15 knots out of the
east. Northern beaches of Culebra and mainland Puerto Rico have a
continuing low to moderate risk of rip current today.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 89 77 89 78 / 60 60 30 60
STT 88 77 88 80 / 50 50 20 60

