National Weather Service San Juan PR
441 AM AST Thu Jan 21 2021
.SYNOPSIS...A patch of low-level moisture will enhance cloudiness
and a slightly higher chance for showers today, but significant
wetting rains are not anticipated. Although intermittent patches
of drier air and low-level moisture will continue to stream across
the region, mainly fair weather conditions will prevail during the
next few days. Light to moderate winds will also prevail, along
with generally tranquil marine and coastal conditions.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Saturday...
Drier air has been moving over Puerto Rico tonight, but a patch of
moisture is present over the USVI. This is causing fair weather over
Puerto Rico, while the USVI observes isolated and brief shower
activity. This small patch of moisture over the USVI is expected
to continue through the morning hours, but the moisture over
Puerto Rico will increase as the day progresses. This increase in
moisture will result in a gradual increase in shower activity over
PR, especially across the higher elevations and the southwestern
quadrant of PR. That said, the showers are not expected to be
heavy or persistent enough to cause flooding, though some ponding
of water will not be ruled out. The daytime temps are expected to
be near normal, with the lower elevations being in the low to mid
80s while the higher elevations will be in the mid 70s to low 80s.
At mid to upper-levels, a polar trough is forecast to move across
the western Atlantic early today as it moves away. A mid and upper
level ridge will gradually move over the area by Friday. Below
normal moisture will move in over the local area on Friday and
through the weekend, causing only a slight chance of rain for the
local area. However, scattered showers in the afternoon is forecast
across the interior sections and western Puerto Rico on Friday.
.LONG TERM...Sunday through Thursday...
Model guidance suggests that mainly fair and stable weather
conditions will dominate the region through the long-term
forecast period. However, patches of low- level moisture embedded
in the trade winds will bring brief periods of cloudiness and
isolated to scattered shower activity from time-to-time. A slight
enhancement of moisture along with increased cloudiness and
shower activity may be expected between Tuesday and Thursday as the
remnants of an old frontal boundary move into the forecast area.
However, model guidance does not suggest significant moisture
content, with model- estimated precipitable water vapor briefly
fluctuating from less than an inch on Monday to 1.30 inches by
Thursday afternoon. Mid-level ridging will promote subsidence and
drier air aloft, conditions that will limit any chance for
organized convective development, even with the highest available
moisture. That said, significant wetting rains are not
anticipated, which will enhance further dryness of soil and
fuels, while promoting favorable fire weather conditions.
&&
.AVIATION...Mainly VFR conditions expected across the local
terminals. Passing SHRA will continue to affect the vicinity of the
USVI terminals this morning. Light and VRB winds will be observed
until around 21/12Z, with East winds with sea breeze variations at
around 10 KT thereafter until around 21/22Z.
&&
.MARINE...Small craft operators are urged to exercise caution due
to choppy seas up to 6 feet across the outer Atlantic waters today.
Elsewhere, tranquil marine conditions with seas up to 5 feet will
prevail through early next week. Another northerly swell will
invade the regional waters by Friday into the weekend, but seas
will remain below Small Craft Criteria. Light to moderate winds
will also prevail, fluctuating between 5 and 15 knots from the
east to northeast during the next few days. In Puerto Rico, a
moderate risk of rip currents continues for beaches along the
north and southeast coast of Puerto Rico, eastern-half of Vieques
and all beaches in Culebra. In the USVi, a moderate risk of rip
currents continues for beaches along the northwest coast of Saint
Thomas and eastern Saint Croix.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Since a patch of low-level moisture is forecast
to stream across the region, relative humidity should remain above
fire danger thresholds, while surface winds are forecast to
remain below 15 mph. Although KBDI values are quickly approaching
fire danger thresholds and significant wetting rains are not
anticipated, low fire danger conditions will hold today.
Nonetheless, lack of significant wetting rains in both short- and
long- term periods will support further dryness of soils and
fuels, while promoting favorable fire weather conditions during
the upcoming days. That said, an elevated to critical fire danger
threat can be expected in the near future.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 84 74 85 72 / 30 30 30 20
STT 84 72 84 72 / 30 10 20 20

