372 FXCA62 TJSJ 171753 AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Juan PR 153 PM AST Sun Aug 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * Hurricane Erin is still a powerful hurricane located about 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, leading to southeasterly winds and external feeder bands that are resulting in showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. * The Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Monday evening. Deteriorated marine and coastal conditions remain, with seas up to 12 feet mostly in the northwestern offshore Atlantic waters and the Mona Passage. * Improving weather conditions are forecast for Tuesday with limited coverage in shower activity and an increase in heat indices along coastal and urban areas. * For the U.S. Virgin Islands, another rainband is forecast for lated this evening, resulting in periods of moderate showers. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Tuesday... Unsettled weather conditions prevailed during the morning hours as external bands from Hurricane Erin moved over the islands. Winds were predominantly from the southwest in the early morning hours, leading to showers mainly across the southeastern section between Salinas and Guayama. At 9:30 AM, showers and thunderstorms increased across most of eastern Puerto Rico, spreading across the island for the rest of the day, including the interior and western interior sections. According to the NEXRAD Radar and surface weather stations, gusty winds were observed with the strongest showers, including 53 mph in Culebra and 49 mph in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Across southeastern Puerto Rico, a gust of up to 42 mph was reported in Las Mareas, Guayama, PR. Rainfall accumulations were significant in municipalities near Adjuntas and Salinas, with accumulations between 2 and 3 inches. Daytime temperatures were much cooler today due to cloudiness and showers, with temperatures remaining in the low to mid-80s. The NHC bulletin located Hurricane Erin maximum sustained winds, 235 miles north-northwest of San Juan, PR. Although the system continues its route to the western Atlantic, associated feeder bands are expected to move over the U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern sections of Puerto Rico this evening and into the late- night hours. The strongest showers will continue to result in low- level flooding, including at low- lying river crossings and in small urban streams. Winds will become more southerly as the system moves north. Given the expected conditions, the Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Monday evening. For Monday, as Erin moves more northward into the Western Atlantic, winds will be predominantly from the south. These surface winds will drag tropical moisture with precipitable water values of 2.2 inches, as suggested by the global model guidance. These surface conditions will lead to mostly cloudy skies and showers affecting the southern coastal areas and, in the afternoon, the interior mountain sections. According to the Glvez-Davison Index (GDI), isolated thunderstorms are expected in most of the interior and northern sections during the afternoon hours. The islands can expect another wet day with an elevated chance of urban flooding, exacerbating the currently affected areas. Therefore, we urge residents and visitors to stay tuned to the weather updates for the islands on Monday. For Tuesday, conditions will slightly improve. Backing winds will bring the typical weather pattern to the islands with a decent amount of moisture, again increasing the heat threat. Additionally, a decrease in the available moisture will limit the coverage of the showers during the afternoon hours. .LONG TERM...Wednesday through Sunday... from previous discussion issued at 500 AM AST Sun Aug 17 2025... Some changes were introduced to the long-term forecast, particularly for the upcoming weekend. Winds will mostly remain from the southeast due to a surface high pressure lingering northeast of the CWA. Model guidance suggests an upper-level low approaching the local area by Wednesday morning, although the latest solutions agree that this feature should move north of the region. Looking at the mid-level temperatures, 500 mb temperatures drop to below climatological normal on Wednesday, enhancing deep convection activity. Due to PWAT values (1.6 - 1.8 inches), the likeliest scenario would be an advective pattern with showers moving over the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques, Culebra, and southeastern Puerto Rico during the morning, while afternoon convection could develop over interior and northwestern Puerto Rico. Rainfall accumulations could lead to ponding of water over roadways, urban, and poorly drained areas, with low chance of urban flooding along interior and northwestern Puerto Rico. A drier air mass should filter into the region by Thursday, and due to the presence of a mid- level ridge, the shower activity may be limited. As for the upcoming weekend, the National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring an area of low pressure with a 0 % chance of formation for the next 48 hours and a 20 % chance in the next 7 days. As mentioned in previous discussions, global model guidance has been suggesting the potential for a vigorous tropical wave to develop into a potential tropical cyclone approaching the Caribbean Basin. Nevertheless, variability continues high, particularly on Friday. Although the deterministic guidance from the GFS and ECMWF agrees on an increase in moisture content, uncertainty remains high regarding trajectory and intensity. Hence, the flooding risk will remain limited for most portions of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, although it may change due to high uncertainty. Once again, residents and visitors should keep monitoring and stay tuned to the latest advisories of Hurricane Erin. As mentioned in previous discussions, the heat risk is expected to remain mostly limited to elevated across urban and coastal areas of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nevertheless, due to hotter than normal temperatures and abundant moisture, the heat risk may increase and become elevated to significant, meeting Heat Advisory/Warning Criteria. && .AVIATION... (18Z) Intermittent periods of SHRA/TSRA associated with Erin`s outer rainbands are expected to continue over the local flying area through at least Monday afternoon. This could cause tempo MVFR to brief IFR conditions at times across the PR terminals thru 17/23z and once again from 18/08z-22z. Across the USVI terminals, mainly VFR conditions with periods of -RA/VCTS are expected to prevail. However, tempo MVFR conds are possible btw 18/00z-08z. South winds will prevail btw 10-20 kt with higher gusts at times. && .MARINE... Erin`s outer rainbands producing thunderstorms with torrential rainfall and gusty winds will continue through at least Monday over portions of the local waters. Swells from Erin will gradually diminish from tonight through Monday morning, and Small Craft Advisory conditions should improve across most waters, except in the offshore Atlantic waters were the SCA could be extended through late Monday due to seas up to 7 feet. Moderate to fresh southerly winds will continue during the next 24-36 hours, becoming light to moderate and from the east to southeast through midweek. A tropical wave is expected to enter the eastern Caribbean on Friday, increasing thunderstorm activity in general && .BEACH FORECAST... NO changes to the actual forecast. Life-threatening rip currents and high surf conditions continue across the east, north, and western facing beaches of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through early Monday. However, swells generated from Hurricane Erin are likely to continue to impact the northern coastline of the islands through the week.Dangerous swimming conditions will persist across all coastlines through at least Monday. Unexperienced surfers and swimmers are urged to avoid going into the water. Please refer to the latest Coastal Hazards Message (CFWSJU) and Surf Zone Forecast (SRFSJU) for more information. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...Flood Watch through Monday evening for PRZ001>013. High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for PRZ001-002-005- 008-010-012-013. High Surf Advisory until 6 AM AST Monday for PRZ001-002-005-008- 012-013. VI...Flood Watch through Monday evening for VIZ001-002. High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for VIZ001-002. High Surf Advisory until 6 AM AST Monday for VIZ001-002. && $$ SHORT TERM & KEY MESSAGES...LIS LONG TERM & BEACH FORECAST....MNG AVIATION & MARINE...DSR
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