Area Forecast Discussion (AFD)
829 FXCA62 TJSJ 060914 CCA AFDSJU Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service San Juan PR 514 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, BEACH FORECAST... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 - A persistent west-southwest to southwesterly steering flow will focus afternoon thunderstorm activity across the interior and steer it toward the north-central, northeastern, and eastern municipalities, including the San Juan metropolitan area. - An unseasonably moist and unstable airmass will maintain elevated risks for urban and small-stream flooding, rapid river rises, and localized flash flooding across the islands through Sunday. - Showery conditions will prevail across the USVI through the weekend. - A northeasterly swell is expected this weekend, increasing the rip current risk to high for northern and eastern beaches of Puerto Rico, Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. && .Short Term(Today through Sunday)... Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 A broad mid-to-upper-level trough north of Hispaniola, alongside a surface low to the north, will be the primary weather features for the next few days as they move towards the central Atlantic. This pattern has disrupted the typical easterly trade winds, establishing a low-to mid-level west-southwesterly flow that continually pools deep tropical moisture across the northeastern Caribbean. Precipitable water values will remain anomalously high between 2.00 and 2.30 inches, approaching the 90th climatological percentile, within a deeply saturated column extending through 500 mb. Recent atmospheric soundings show surface-based CAPE exceeding 2300 J/kg, weak capping, and a deep warm cloud layer, while aerosol models show little to no Saharan dust, creating an environment that favors strong convective development. The west-southwesterly steering flow will shift the usual precipitation patterns and storm trajectories across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. After morning showers pass over the southern and western portions of the islands, daytime heating and local sea breeze convergence will trigger shower and thunderstorm development along the Cordillera Central each afternoon. Steering winds of 5 to 15 knots will carry these showers and thunderstorms downstream toward the north-central, northeastern, and eastern portions of the islands, including the San Juan metro area. High precipitation efficiency in slow-moving cells will produce intense localized rainfall, resulting in ponding of water, urban and small-stream flooding, and quick river rises. Cumulative rainfall over saturated soils will progressively increase the threat of localized flash flooding and mudslides in areas of steep terrain. Additionally these thunderstorms could produce waterspouts across the coastal waters of the islands. && .Long Term(Monday through Friday)... Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 To start the next workweek, a plume of tropical moisture will linger near the region under a light southwesterly steering flow as a frontal low continues to move away from the region. Both the GFS and the ECMWF are in general agreement with regards to available moisture towards midweek. Precipitable water (PWAT) values should stay generally above normal values (2.0 inches) through midweek. 850- 870 mb relative humidity (RH) is forecast to range between high-end normal values to above normal values through Tuesday, before trending towards more normal values. 700-500 mb should stay above normal through most of the period. 925 mb wind speeds will be on a decreasing trend through Tuesday (being light and variable) before gradually increasing once again towards Wednesday and through the end of the forecast period. A surface high and then another frontal low will move over the western Atlantic towards the end of the period. The steering flow is forecast to be southwesterly on Monday before becoming more southerly Tuesday onwards, with more moderate E to SE surface flow to end the period. Diurnal heating and local effects are forecast to result in afternoon showers and t-storms, guided by the above mentioned flow. This will sustain a flooding risk, especially each afternoon. Overnight and morning showers will also affect windward sectors. Although the moisture plume will linger towards early Thursday, the southerly steering flow will quickly result in additional moisture over the islands towards the end of the period as the above mentioned frontal low moves northward towards the Western Atlantic, possibly sustaining the flooding risk. The model guidance diverges more through this period, with the GFS trending towards above normal PWAT and 700-500 mb RH while the ECMWF trends towards more normal values. Above normal 925 mb temperatures are forecast for most of the period, prompting at least a limited heat risk and possibly reaching two standard deviations by the second half of the workweek. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 Mainly VFR conditions are expected to prevail across TJSJ/TIST/TJBQ thru the morning hours, while intermittent periods of -SHRA/VCTS prevails at TJPS and TISX. Between 06/16-22z, tempo MVFR to brief IFR conds are possible at TJSJ/TIST/TISX due to +TSRA/SHRA with mtn tops obscd along the Cordillera and eastern mountain ranges. Mostly VCSH expected across the rest of the PR and USVI terminals. By 06/13Z, surface winds will shift from light and variable to a south-southwesterly to west-southwesterly flow at 5 to 13 knots, accompanied by local sea breeze variations. && .MARINE... Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 Light southwesterly winds will gradually become more westerly through Saturday as a low pressure strengthens north of the region. Increasing showers and thunderstorms will result in deteriorating weather conditions across most regional waters and local passages today and into the weekend, particularly across the Atlantic waters. Gusty winds, reduced visibility, and frequent lightning are possible with the strongest thunderstorms. Meanwhile, a northerly swell will begin arriving today, with most of the swell energy expected by Saturday evening and persisting through early next week. This may result in hazardous marine conditions, particularly across the Atlantic waters and northern passages. However, uncertainty remains regarding the strength of the incoming swell and the extent of the resulting marine hazards. && .BEACH FORECAST... Issued at 232 AM AST Fri Nov 6 2026 A moderate risk of rip currents will prevail across most northern, northwestern, and eastern-exposed beaches of the islands today, with a low risk elsewhere. However, beach conditions are expected to gradually deteriorate as a northerly swell begins to reach the local Atlantic waters. Model guidance continues to suggest that most of the swell energy will arrive by Saturday evening, with additional pulses maintaining hazardous beach conditions through early next week. Although uncertainty remains regarding the strength of the incoming swell and the extent of its coastal impacts, a high risk of rip currents remains possible along the northern, northwestern and eastern-exposed beaches of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the weekend and into early next week. Beachgoers should closely monitor forecast updates and follow the advice of local beach patrols and flag warning systems. In addition, showers and thunderstorms may affect coastal areas of the islands today and through the weekend, particularly along northern Puerto Rico. Beachgoers should remain weather alert, as gusty winds and dangerous lightning may occur even when thunderstorms remain offshore. Seek shelter immediately whenever thunder is heard. && .SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PR...None. VI...None. AM...None. && $$ AVIATION/SHORT TERM...DSR LONG TERM....MRR BEACH/MARINE...CVB
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