textproduct: San Juan

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

* The USVI and PR will continue under a warm to hot weather pattern, especially across urban and coastal areas. This level of heat affects primarily sensitive individuals without effective cooling or adequate hydration.

* Beachgoers can expect a moderate rip current risk to continue along the north and east-facing beaches throughout much of the forecast period.

* Although mostly fair weather conditions will prevail each day across the islands, western PR can expect isolated to scattered afternoon showers daily.

Short Term(This evening through Friday)

Issued at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

Today featured mostly sunny skies under an east-southeast wind flow, with maximum temperatures reaching the upper 80s to mid-90s across urban and coastal areas. Heat index values climbed as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit. A few showers moved across the USVI and eastern Puerto Rico early this morning. By the time this discussion was written, additional showers had developed downwind of the USVI and across the surrounding waters, while light rain was observed over portions of the interior, north, and northwest Puerto Rico.

Expect generally fair weather through this afternoon and evening, although isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop across the interior and northwest quadrant of Puerto Rico, with additional activity possible downwind of the USVI. Some of these showers and isolated thunderstorms may produce periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall.

Although the upper-level trough continues to exit the region, a mid-level ridge and associated dry air aloft are promoting subsidence and limiting the overall effects of the trough. However, local effects, sea breeze convergence, and excessive daytime heating will still support afternoon convective development. Once this activity dissipates later this evening, leeward sections of Puerto Rico can expect mostly clear skies, which may support some nighttime cooling. Meanwhile, the USVI and windward Puerto Rico will observe generally fair skies with occasional partly cloudy periods as patches of moisture moving in with the trade winds produce passing showers.

This weather pattern is expected to persist through Friday. As the upper-level trough amplifies across the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and the USVI will remain under the influence of a mid- to upper-level ridge through the short-term period. Therefore, a somewhat stable but seasonable weather pattern is expected, consisting of passing showers across windward areas overnight and during the morning hours, followed by afternoon convection across leeward sections of Puerto Rico.

Long Term(Saturday through next Tuesday)

Issued at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

A generally drier-than-normal pattern for shower development will persist through the period as mid-level ridging and subsidence dominate across the region. Moisture will remain below normal for this time of year and mostly confined below 700750 mb, limiting vertical growth and resulting in reduced shower activity. An east to east-southeasterly steering flow will prevail, supporting a consistent daily pattern with brief, quick-moving passing showers affecting windward areas during the overnight and morning hours, followed by isolated afternoon convection over interior to west- northwestern Puerto Rico, driven by local effects and mostly diurnal heating. Isolated thunderstorms cannot be ruled out, but coverage will remain very limited. Minor traces of Saharan dust may be present at times, though concentrations are expected to remain low.

Breezy conditions will increase into the weekend and early next week, particularly across coastal and windward areas, supporting a limited non-thunderstorm wind risk with occasional gusts up to around 25 mph or higher at times. Increasing temperatures combined with warm and humid low-level conditions will promote a limited heat risk each day, mainly affecting sensitive individuals or those with prolonged outdoor exposure and inadequate hydration. In addition, the combination of warm temperatures and increasing winds will maintain the potential for elevated fire danger, particularly across southern and coastal areas where fuels will continue to dry.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

VFR conditions across all terminals. Winds will remain from SE around 5 - 18kts with occasional higher gusts, becoming light and variable overnight. VCSH over TIST, TISX, and TJSJ after 06/10Z.

MARINE

Issued at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

The interaction between broad surface highs and frontal lows over the Atlantic will promote moderate easterly to east-southeasterly winds through tonight. From later tonight through the end of the weekend, winds will turn more east to east-northeast. Additionally, increasing winds will promote moderate to fresh winds from this weekend into early next week.

BEACH FORECAST

Issued at 250 PM AST Wed May 6 2026

The north and east-facing beaches will possibly observe life- threatening rip currents throughout the forecast period. A low risk of rip currents will continue elsewhere. However, exercise caution, as beaches with low risk could develop life-threatening rip currents in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers.

Beachgoers can expect increasing winds during the weekend into next week, promoting a moderate risk of rip currents across most beaches.

SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PR...None. VI...None. AM...None.