National Weather Service San Juan PR
452 AM AST Mon Sep 18 2023
.SYNOPSIS...Diurnal heating and local effects will promote
afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity mainly across interior
to western Puerto Rico over the next few days. Excessive heat risk
will persist each late morning to early afternoon across urban,
coastal and lower elevation areas.
Northerly swells from Lee and Margot are promoting hazardous seas
across the Atlantic Waters. Because of this, Small Craft
Advisories is in effect for the offshore Atlantic Waters, and the
coastal waters of northern and northwestern Puerto Rico, through
at least this evening. High Surf Advisories and High Risk of Rip
Currents are in effect for the northern coastline of PR.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Wednesday...
Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies were observed across the islands
during the overnight hours. Minimum temperatures were from the mid
60s across the higher elevations of Puerto Rico to the upper 70s and
low 80s across the coastal areas of the islands. Light passing
showers were noted across the coastal Atlantic waters of PR with
some leaving minor rainfall accumulations over land areas. The land
breeze prevailed across PR and the USVI, with wind speeds at less
than 10 mph.
For today, sunny to partly cloudy skies should prevail through the
morning hours across the region. A weak surface high pressure over
the western Atlantic and TC Nigel over the central Atlantic will
promote a weak northeasterly wind flow across the region. Embedded
in this flow, a patch of low-level moisture is expected to reach the
local area through the day. This will aid in the formation of
showers and isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon hours over
portions of the interior, southern, and western Puerto Rico. Urban
and small stream flooding is expected with these thunderstorms. Due
to the light steering winds showers could drift over coastal areas
after the sea breeze decreases before sunset.
For Tuesday and Wednesday, an upper level ridge is forecast to build
over the area, increasing stability. However, the precipitable water
content is expected to remain between 1.50 and 1.75 inches,
sufficient to aid in the development of afternoon convection over
the interior of PR each day. The wind direction is expected to
become more easterly, but relative weak trades will continue to
prevail. Also, the change in wind direction may cause showers to
develop over the north-northwestern sections of PR. Across the USVI,
overall fair weather conditions should prevail through the short-
term period, with limited shower activity.
Maximum temperatures should range from the upper 80s to low 90s
across the lower elevations, and the usual urban and coastal areas o
the islands should experience heat indices between 105-110 degrees
or higher, before the onset of afternoon convection.
&&
.LONG TERM...Thursday through Tuesday...
Easterly winds will prevail over the long term period as a surface
ridge builds across the eastern Atlantic. This will drive a
pattern of passing windward showers across eastern Puerto Rico and
the USVI followed by afternoon convection mainly across the
interior to western section of PR. The main driver of how much
rain is to be expected is the content of precipitable water each
day that becomes abundant at the end of the term. On Friday
moisture increases, which will support good rainfall. Then on
Sunday afternoon, a large tropical airmass will move into the
region. This has the potential to bring soggy conditions into next
week. However, a mid to upper level ridge begins to form north of
the eastern Caribbean at this time. This could possible limit
most of the rainfall to afternoon convection. Heavy rain can be
expected on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday due to this increase of
moisture. Also, the seasonal pattern of hot afternoons will
continue each day, especially across northern coastal areas of
Puerto Rico which is likely to continue the trend of record
breaking high temperature across some parts of our islands.
&&
.AVIATION...Mainly VFR conditions expected to prevail across all
terminals during the next 24 hours. However, diurnally induced
afternoon SHRA/TSRA may cause tempo MVFR conds at TJPS and VCTS at
TJBQ. Elsewhere, VCSH possible at times thru the period. Surface
winds E-ENE at 8-12 kt with sea breeze variations and higher gusts
aft 18/15z.
&&
.MARINE...Recent observation across the northern coastlines are
showing seas up to 8 feet with periods between 12 to 14 seconds
reflecting the lingering swell action from Lee and Margot. As a
result, a small craft advisory for the Atlantic waters is in place
through at least this evening. High surf Advisories and High rip
current risk statements will continue due to breaking waves around
10 feet. The southern coastlines are much tamer with 2 to 4 foot
breaking waves. Swell will continue later this week due to
Hurricane Nigel.

