The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has noted that a Wind Advisory is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with gusts potentially topping 40 mph. Strong winds will continue to generate choppy seas and raise the risk of wildfires.
According to information from the NWS, a Wind Advisory is issued when sustained winds of at least 31 miles per hour last for an hour or more or when wind gusts reach between 46 and 57 miles per hour for any duration.
The NWS said that the current Wind Advisory across both U.S. territories will be in effect until at least 8 p.m. Friday. The windy conditions are partly due to a robust area of high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean.
“[On Thursday,] the main hazard will be the windy conditions, with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts potentially exceeding 40 mph, possibly reaching up to 50 mph in localized areas,” the NWS said in an update on Thursday morning. “The [windy] conditions are expected to continue into Friday [before gradually subsiding over the weekend],” the NWS continued.
The NWS explained that the winds may cause hazardous conditions across the local islands.
“The [windy weather] could lead to difficult driving, especially for high-profile vehicles on bridges or exposed roadways,” the NWS warned. “Tree limbs or weak trees may break and fall onto power lines, and outdoor items could be blown around or damaged, [and] minor damage to poorly secured structures are also possible,” the NWS added.
Additional Weather Alerts
The NWS stated that the powerful winds will continue to generate hazardous marine conditions and raise the risk of rip currents. Marine weather alerts will be in effect.
“A broad surface high pressure over the western Atlantic will continue to promote fresh to locally strong east to east-northeast winds through at least late Friday night, then conditions will gradually improve Saturday into Sunday,” the NWS stated. “[On Thursday,] seas will continue to build between 6 to ten feet, and occasionally higher, across most waters, resulting in hazardous seas over the next few days [before slowly subsiding],” the NWS said.
A High Rip Current Risk will remain in effect for areas of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least 6 p.m. Saturday, and a Small Craft Advisory will be in effect for portions of the local waters until noon Saturday.
The NWS acknowledged that intermittent showers and thunderstorms are possible in the coming days. However, due to the gusty conditions, there is also a risk of wildfires across the region. The NWS has issued a Fire Danger Statement for the southwestern coastal plains of Puerto Rico.
“Given the combination of very low relative humidity, somewhat dry [soils, and] windy conditions, the potential for rapid fire spread is elevated,” the NWS said. “[A] Fire Danger Statement [has been] issued to emphasize the heightened risk and urge extra precaution, particularly for activities that could spark a fire, such as outdoor burning, camping, or vehicle use in grassy areas,” the NWs explained.
Weather Forecast Information
Finally, residents and visitors are reminded that hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30. With a potentially busy season ahead, individuals are urged to remain informed about the weather.
Weather forecast information and severe weather alerts are available from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s website and the National Weather Service.
The Source Weather Page also publishes a daily weather forecast and allows readers to view weather forecast videos and disaster preparedness video segments.
