


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
241 FXCA62 TJSJ 020739 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 339 AM AST Tue Sep 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * An increase in low-level moisture and warmer temperatures will exacerbate heat indices in north-central areas and southern coastal plains. Given the expected conditions, an extreme heat warning is in effect from 10 AM to 5 PM AST today. * For today, there is a elevated flood and lightning threat along the northwestern Puerto Rico from 12 to 5 PM AST. * For the upcoming weekend, a tropical wave, combined with an upper- level trough, will increase the potential for showers and thunderstorms, increasing the flood threat. * For the U.S. Virgin Islands, variable weather conditions will persist, with warm temperatures expected through the upcoming weekend. The arrival of a tropical wave is anticipated to increase shower frequency across the islands. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday... Clear to partly cloudy skies prevailed across the islands during the overnight hours. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms were noted mainly over the northwestern waters of Puerto Rico, and the Anegada Passage just before midnight. Showers are expected to move over portions of the USVI and the eastern sections of PR through the rest of the early morning hours. Minimum temperatures were from the upper-70s to low 80s across the lower elevations of the islands to the mid-60s and 70s across the higher elevations of Puerto Rico. The wind was light with an easterly component. A broad surface high pressure over the central Atlantic and front across the northwestern Atlantic will continue to promote light to moderate (10-15 kt) southerly steering winds through Wednesday. These winds will bring a surge in low-level moisture from the southeastern Caribbean today. Meanwhile, an upper-level low north of the area will move southwest, just north of Hispaniola by Wednesday, promoting colder 500 mb temperatures and increasing instability in general, which will aid in the development of strong afternoon thunderstorms each day. A tropical wave will cross the region late on Thursday, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms across the regional waters and over portions of the islands late in the forecast period. At least through Wednesday, a similar weather pattern is expected, with showers increasing in and around the U.S. Virgin Islands and across the east/southeast sections of Puerto Rico during the morning hours. This will then be followed by afternoon thunderstorm development over portions of the interior and the northwestern quadrant of PR, as well as downwind from el Yunque area and over portions of the Cordillera. The main weather hazards will be urban and small stream flooding, strong gusty winds, and lightning strikes. In addition, the light southeasterly winds will continue to promote hot temperatures across the lower elevations of the islands, and heat advisory conditions are expected before the onset of afternoon showers. On Thursday, winds are expected to shift more from the east, remaining around 15 kt as the weak tropical wave moves across the region. The best moisture associated with the wave will arrive late in the day. Therefore, fair weather conditions are expected during the morning hours across the islands, with afternoon showers and thunderstorm development over portions of the Cordillera and western PR, and downwind of the islands. .LONG TERM...Friday through Tuesday... The long-term forecast remains on track. According to the latest global model guidance for Friday, the islands will be mostly dominated by a broad surface high pressure over the central Atlantic. Under this pattern, sufficient cloudiness and moisture will support a typical weather regime, with variable conditions in the morning followed by afternoon convection. An increase in showers and thunderstorms is forecast from late Friday into the weekend, as an upper-level trough near 250 mb enhances instability across the region. This feature, combined with abundant tropical moisture from a tropical wave, will favor stronger convection with frequent lightning, gusty winds, and periods of heavy rainfall. Based on the Glvez-Davison Index (GDI), there is a high chance of widespread showers and thunderstorm activity each afternoon through the weekend. This activity is expected to range from moderate to intense, leading to urban and low-lying flooding. Additionally, the threat of lightning will increase, particularly across the western interior and the San Juan metro area. From Monday to Tuesday, moisture will diminish and an upper-level ridge will erode the instability over the region. As a result, a more typical weather pattern is expected, with afternoon convection across the islands. The presence of moisture and 03 km winds will enhance the heat threat across all coastal and urban areas during the long-term period. These warmer conditions could exacerbate heat-related illness symptoms associated with heat exhaustion. Residents and visitors are urged to follow the recommendations issued by the health department. && .AVIATION... (06z TAFs) Mainly VFR conditions are expected to prevail across all terminals during the next 24 hour. However, afternoon TSRA could develop near TJBQ/TJSJ between 02/17-23Z, causing tempo MVFR to brief IFR conditions. Elsewhere, mostly VCSH expected. Southeast winds expected between 10-15 kt with sea breeze variations and higher gusts aft 02/14z. && .MARINE... A surface high pressure over the central Atlantic will continue to result in moderate to locally fresh east to southeasterly winds across the local waters. Seas will remain up to 5 feet across the Atlantic offshore waters and even lower across the coastal waters. Localized hazardous marine conditions due to thunderstorms are forecast from late Friday into Sunday as a tropical wave moves into the local waters, resulting in an increase in cloudiness and showers. && .BEACH FORECAST... There is a low risk of rip currents along all the coastal areas of Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Therefore, coastal conditions are suitable for beachgoers and visitors. Although conditions remain good stay alert to areas not designated to beachgoers. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 5 PM AST this afternoon for PRZ001>005-007-008-010>013. VI...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 5 PM AST this afternoon for VIZ001-002. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM & AVIATION...DS LONG TERM & MARINE....LIS