National Weather Service San Juan PR
419 AM AST Fri Mar 5 2021
.SYNOPSIS...Fair weather conditions will persist into this
afternoon, before low-level moisture increases later this
afternoon through Saturday with the passage of an easterly
disturbance, resulting in an increase in shower activity. Fair
weather conditions return on Sunday, before a transition to a
wetter pattern by much of next week as low-level moisture
increases.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Sunday...
The upper-level ridge will slowly erode as a mid to upper-level
trough swings by from the west today. Winds will continue from
the southeast until the surface-high pressure builds stronger
across the western Atlantic by the weekend. GOES-East-derived
total precipitable water (TPW) images indicated additional
moisture approaching the islands from an easterly disturbance
located towards southeast. However, in the meantime, before the
arrival of this moist air mass, fair weather conditions with
mostly sunny skies and just a few isolated showers across the
windward sections of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will
prevail during the morning hours. Then, as moisture moves closer,
shower activity will slowly increase across the local Caribbean
Waters, St Croix, and eastern/northern PR late this morning or
during the afternoon. Rain activity will spread over the interior
and western portions of Puerto Rico around the afternoon and this
evening. As this easterly disturbance moves away from the
islands, the trailing moisture, enhanced by low level-
convergence, could produce shower activity across the east, and
Caribbean coastal areas of Puerto Rico and St Croix, late tonight
into Saturday morning. The available tropical moisture will aid in
another round of afternoon convection across the San Juan metro
area and the northwestern quadrant of Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Today, the latest model guidance is not so aggressive in terms of
rainfall accumulations. Therefore, instead of urban and small
stream flooding, it is more likely to observe just ponding of
water in roads and poorly drained areas.
Little or no rain activity is forecast by Saturday evening and
Sunday morning as the tropical moisture pulls away. However, the
typical pocket of moisture advected by the winds will arrive at
times over the islands, bringing passing showers.
.LONG TERM...Monday through Friday...
A frontal boundary will be located to our northwest on Monday.
This feature will drag some low-level moisture into the area with
an increase in showers expected. Isolated to scattered showers are
possible across portions of eastern Puerto Rico and the USVI
during the morning hours followed by afternoon activity across
western Puerto Rico. Low-level winds will then increase on Tuesday
into Wednesday as a surface high pressure moves across the
western Atlantic. This will result in a cool advective pattern,
with trade wind shower activity expected at times. Then, towards
the latter half of the week, the weather pattern will undergo
changes aloft. Global models continue to remain consistent in
showing a mid and upper-level trough developing and amplifying
west of the area, over near Hispanola. This would put the area
on the favorable side for upward vertical motion. If the global
models are correct in their current solution, then a more
unstable weather pattern can be expected towards the latter half
of the week with enhanced shower activity possible across portions
of the area.
&&
.AVIATION...VFR conditions will prevail this morning. SHRA/+SHRA
will develop across E-PR/USVI by 05/16z, spreading into the
interior/W-PR by 05/18z and onward. Winds will persist from the SE
at 10 kt or less, with sea breeze variations after 05/13z.
&&
.MARINE...A fading northerly swell will result in an improvement
in seas across the local waters for today with wave heights
expected to range between 3 and 5 feet. Fairly tranquil marine
conditions are expected to continue through the upcoming weekend
with east to southeast winds up to 15 knots. For beachgoers, there
is a high risk of rip currents for the north-central to San Juan
and vicinity beaches with a low to moderate risk expected
elsewhere.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 87 74 87 72 / 40 40 40 30
STT 84 75 84 74 / 30 30 30 30

