Updated 5/1/24 at 7:57 p.m. AST

VI SOURCE WEATHER UPDATES

! An unstable weather pattern is on tap throughout the week and this weekend. Additionally, a northerly swell and gusty winds are generating choppy seas. A Small Craft Advisory and a High Rip Current Risk will be in effect for portions of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least the early hours of Thursday. Please read more here.

! A NEW Daily Weather Update video for Thursday, May 2, is available here!

Article: Colorado State University Predicts Extremely Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Article: La Niña Weather Pattern May Spawn an Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Series: “Extreme Weather in the Caribbean”

• Part 1: Caribbean Earthquakes and Tsunamis
• Part 2: Caribbean Volcanoes
• Part 3: Rip Currents
• Part 4: Hurricanes
• Part 5: Wildfires
• Part 6: Flash Floods
• An article about earthquakes in the Caribbean is available here!
• An informational video about drought conditions in the USVI is available here!

THURSDAY’S WEATHER FORECAST: 5/2/24

Happy Thursday!

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, an unstable weather pattern is expected through the week and into the weekend. Therefore, Thursday will be partly sunny and breezy, with scattered showers and thunderstorms, and rain may be heavy at times. The high temperature will be approximately 87°F, 30.5°C, with gusty winds out of the east-southeast at about 17 to 21 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. The chance of rain on Thursday is approximately 50%. The ground is saturated, and any additional heavy rainfall could result in flash flooding. 

Thursday night will be mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and thunderstorms. The low temperature will be approximately 77°F, 25°C, and gusty winds out of the east-southeast at about 14 to 16 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. The possibility of rain on Thursday night is approximately 60%.

Below: Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 7:30 p.m. AST on Wednesday indicates a partly cloudy sky around the USVI and Puerto Rico. Rain and thunderstorms are possible.

MARINE WEATHER UPDATE

The NWS has noted that a northerly swell and gusty winds will continue to generate choppy seas. A Small Craft Advisory and a High Rip Current Risk are in effect for portions of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least the early hours of Thursday.

On Thursday, seas will be approximately 4 to 6 feet, with occasional seas up to 8 feet and a swell period of 10 seconds. Winds will be out of the east-southeast at about 15 to 20 knots, gusting up to 25 knots.

On Thursday night, seas will be approximately 3 to 5 feet, with occasional seas up to 6 feet and a swell period of 10 seconds. Winds will be out of the east-southeast at about 10 to 15 knots.

The water temperature is approximately 83-84°F, approximately 28°C.

Ocean Water Temperature Map from 4/29/24, courtesy of NOAA:

Wave Height Forecast Map courtesy of NWS:

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

Rip Currents: The risk of rip currents is projected to be high across most of the region on Thursday. A High Rip Current Risk is in effect for portions of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least 6 a.m. on Thursday.

Clear = Low Rip Current Risk

Yellow = Moderate Rip Current Risk

Red = High Rip Current Risk

Learn more about rip current safety in an interview between the NWS and the VI Source here.

TROPIC WATCH

Tropical Activity: The National Hurricane Center does not expect any cyclonic development over the next seven days.

A possible La Niña Weather Pattern May Spawn an Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Read more here. Additionally, Colorado State University Predicts Extremely Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Click here to learn tips on being prepared for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Days Until 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: 30 Days 

OBSERVATIONS

Sunrise: 5:53 a.m.
Sunset: 6:42 p.m.

Ocean water temperature: Approximately 83-84°F, approximately 28°C.

UV index: 10+ out of 10 (VERY HIGH)

Wednesday’s high temperature: 88°F, 31.1°C
Wednesday’s low temperature:  79°F, 26.1°C

Preparation for extreme weather events in the Caribbean, such as earthquakes and tropical cyclones, is important. Residents and visitors in the USVI are encouraged to stay updated on weather events on the V.I. Source Weather page and sign up for alerts from the National Weather Service and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.