Don’t look for any improvement in the weather until Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Luis Rosa said from San Juan on Monday.
“It will look pretty wet,” he said.
According to Rosa, the rainfall totals won’t be as high as early October when Hurricane Otto lingered to the north, but it could be significant enough to cause problems. He said thunderstorms could occur.
He anticipated that a total of two to four inches will fall throughout the week.
And when it isn’t raining, Rosa said chances are good it will be cloudy.
The bad weather is left over from Tropical Storm Tomas, which is no longer a storm but left behind plenty of moisture, Rosa said.
Mark Walters, who heads the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said in a Monday press release that most of the heavy rainfall has drifted well east of the area. He said the territory will experience intermittent periods of wet weather followed by drier conditions.
The territory is currently on a high surf advisory that will last until 8 a.m. Wednesday. However, Rosa said that big swells will begin building Friday with the peak coming Saturday. Those swells will be larger than the ones currently affecting the territory. The swells will affect the north-facing coasts.
These swells are expected to produce breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet and dangerous rip currents across exposed northern and northeastern exposed coastlines, shallow waters and reefs of the Virgin Islands, Walters said.
He urged beach goers and inexperienced surfers to stay out of the water until these hazardous surf conditions subside. Persons on the beach should be vigilant for large breaking waves surging upon the shore and onto rock formations. These surging waves will also create the potential for beach erosion during times of high tide.
Additionally, the territory is on a flash flood watch until 8 p.m. Monday, but Rosa expects it to be extended.
Walters advised residents to be cautious when traversing areas prone to flooding and to monitor weather reports for sea conditions.
