


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
Issued by NWS San Juan, PR
455 FXCA62 TJSJ 140737 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 337 AM AST Sun Sep 14 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * A couple of tropical waves will increase the frequency of showers and thunderstorms through much of the workweek. This will the risk of flooding elevated. Additional threats include rapid river rises, landslides, and frequent lightning. * The Virgin Islands will also see an increase in showers and thunderstorms, with water surges along the drainage guts, ponding of water on roadways, and occasional lightning and landslides. * Weather will likely improve later in the week and into next weekend, but it will be very hot again for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These heat indices will be affecting anyone without effective cooling or adequate hydration. * The risk of rip currents will be moderate for most of the workweek. Also, there is a risk of lightning strikes each afternoon across most of the local beaches in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Tuesday... Overnight, relatively calm weather conditions prevailed, with isolated showers moving across local waters and passages. Some of these showers reached parts of the U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico, resulting in minimal accumulations. Low temperatures were in the upper 70s to low 80s in coastal and urban areas, and from the upper 60s to low 70s in the mountains. A tropical wave east of the U.S. Virgin Islands is forecast to move over the local islands today. The associated moisture field will begin to enter the area this morning, with precipitable water values exceeding 1.90 inches and potentially reaching 2.30 inches later in the afternoon. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques, and Culebra, showers will gradually increase during the morning, with isolated thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. In Puerto Rico, afternoon convective activity is expected to produce heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across central and western municipalities, spreading toward the northwestern and northern parts of the island. Streamer activity from "El Yunque" will also impact the San Juan metro area and adjacent municipalities this afternoon. This activity could lead to urban and small stream flooding, rapid river rises, water surges, and landslides. The strongest thunderstorms are expected to bring frequent lightning and gusty winds. With soils already saturated from previous rainfall, the risk of flooding will remain from limited to elevated across the area for the next few days. Residents and visitors are advised to continue monitoring weather conditions throughout the weekend and plan accordingly, especially in flood- prone areas. By Monday, an atmospheric disturbance will arrive, promoting another round of unstable weather. This disturbance has precipitable water values up to 2.35 inches, which will support another day of strong showers and thunderstorms. Areas previously affected by heavy rain may experience additional flooding and rapid river rises. The 925 mb temperatures are expected to remain at or above-normal for the period. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s along coastal and urban areas, and in the upper 70s to mid 80s in higher elevations. .LONG TERM...Wednesday through Sunday... A tropical wave crossing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, along with an upper level trough will maintain unsettled weather conditions through Thursday. Precipitable water values are expected to be at 2.0 to 2.25 inches, which is about one standard deviation above normal for mid-September. These features will maintain the probability of precipitation on the high side. Since afternoons have been so active, soils are already saturated and rivers are running high, especially along the interior and western Puerto Rico. Therefore, it is very likely that urban and small stream flooding will continue, each day. Also, rivers may reach flood stage too, while landslides, lightning strikes and gusty winds could also develop. Showers will also reach eastern Puerto Rico at times, and although soils are not as saturated, impacts should be similar. Across the Virgin Islands, periods of showers and thunderstorms will cause water surge along guts and drainage channels, with ponding of water on roadways and isolated urban flood. Moving into Friday and the weekend, the attention shifts toward the system being monitored by the National Hurricane Center. So far, the guidance shows this tropical wave developing and moving toward the northwest before reaching the northeastern Caribbean. As the system moves, it will push some drier air into the islands, so weather conditions should improve, at least in terms of rain. The thing is that although it will not be as wet, winds should shift from the southeast, and 925 mb temperature values will soar, going nearly two standard deviation above normal. As a result, very hot temperatures will come back, with the likelihood of experiencing Heat Advisory or Extreme Heat Warning conditions. This level of heat will impact anyone without effective cooling or adequate hydration. && .AVIATION... (06z) Mainly VFR to brief MVFR conds across all terminals during the fcst period. A tropical wave is expected to move into the area today promoting VCSH/VCTS over TIST/TISX/TJSJ thru 14/23Z. SHRA/TSRA will gradually increase over TJBQ/TJPS aft 14/17Z. Reduced VIS, mountain obsc and low cigs expected thru 14/23Z. Sfc winds from the ESE at 10- 14 kts, with higher gusts and sea breeze variations aft 14/14Z. && .MARINE... A surface high-pressure located over the central and eastern Atlantic is interacting with a frontal boundary in the Western Atlantic, resulting in light to moderate east-southeasterly winds through tomorrow. An approaching tropical wave will move over the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico today, increasing the likelihood of showers and thunderstorms. After the tropical wave passes, local winds will shift to moderate and occasionally fresh as the high- pressure tightens the local pressure gradient. Another tropical wave is expected to move through the area around Tuesday. && .BEACH FORECAST... The risk of life-threatening rip currents will increase to moderate beginning Sunday and persist through most of the workweek, particularly for northern and eastern exposed beaches of Puerto Rico and Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Even with a low risk, life-threatening rip currents can still occur near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers, so beachgoers are advised to exercise caution at all times. Additionally, thunderstorms are likely during the afternoon hours, producing dangerous lightning strikes; be prepared to seek shelter if thunder is heard. && .HYDROLOGY... Active afternoons have maintain the soils saturated across most of the interior and western half of Puerto Rico. These periods of heavy rain has also maintain the rivers at above normal to much above normal levels. These unsettled weather pattern is expected to persist through much of the workweek, as moisture remains above normal due to a couple of approaching tropical waves. Since soils are saturated, much of the precipitation will quickly become excessive runoff, causing urban or flash flooding, water surges along rivers, rivers going above flood stage, and landslides too. The rivers across the eastern third of Puerto Rico are not as full, but these rivers usually react much faster than the river in the west, hence, periods of heavy rain will likely result in rapid river rises as well. For the Virgin Islands, periods of heavy rain will cause water surges along drainage guts, and ponding of water on roadways. Urban flooding could develop too, while landslides in areas of steep terrain cannot be ruled out. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM/AVIATION...GRS LONG TERM/MARINE/BEACH/HYDROLOGY....ERG