Updated 6/25/24 at 9:32 p.m. AST
Weather updates are posted by Jesse Daley, who has been reporting on weather for the Source since 2022 and holds an Undergraduate Certificate in Weather Forecasting from Pennsylvania State University.
VI SOURCE WEATHER UPDATES
! The NWS has noted that a large plume of Saharan dust will continue to be prevalent over the region, causing a hazy sky. There will be excessive heat across the islands again on Wednesday. Excessive Heat Watches, Warnings, or Advisories may be issued.
! A NEW Weekly Weather Update video is available here!
! An article regarding drought conditions across the territory, as well as details about summer weather, is available here!
! June 1 marked the beginning of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: NOAA Forecasts Above-Average 2024 Hurricane Season, Expects High Number of Named Cyclones.
Article 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!
- Article: Colorado State University Predicts Extremely Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
- Article: La Niña Weather Pattern May Spawn an Active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
WEDNESDAY’S WEATHER FORECAST: 6/26/24
Happy Wednesday!
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday will be mostly sunny and hazy, with a chance of isolated showers. A large plume of Saharan dust will be over the region, which may be unhealthy for vulnerable individuals. The high temperature will be approximately 90°F, 32.2°C, with winds out of the east-southeast at about 16 to 20 mph. The Heat Index is expected to be high, and staying hydrated and cool is essential. Excessive Heat Warnings or Advisories may be issued. The chance of rain on Wednesday is roughly 10 percent.
Wednesday night will be partly cloudy and hazy, with a chance of scattered showers. The low temperature will be approximately 80°F, 26.6°C, with winds out of the east at about 17 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. The possibility of rain on Wednesday night is roughly 30 percent.
Yellow = Limited Risk, Orange = Moderate Risk, Red = Significant Risk
Below: Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 9:10 p.m. AST on Tuesday indicates a partly cloudy sky around the USVI and Puerto Rico. Showers are possible.
MARINE WEATHER UPDATE
On Wednesday, the seas will be approximately 2 to 4 feet, with occasional seas up to 5 feet. Winds will be out of the east-southeast at about 15 knots, gusting up to 25 knots.
On Wednesday night, the seas will be approximately 2 to 3 feet, with occasional seas up to 4 feet. Winds will be out of the east at about 10 to 15 knots, gusting up to 20 knots.
The water temperature is approximately 87°F, approximately 30.5°C.
Ocean Water Temperature Map from 6/25/24, courtesy of NOAA:
Wave Height Forecast Map courtesy of NWS:
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
Rip Currents: The risk of rip currents is projected to be low to moderate across most of the region on Wednesday.
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 (NHC) is monitoring a tropical wave located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, and this system could develop as it moves toward the western Caribbean and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico later this week. The system currently has a 20 percent chance of development over the next 7 days.
The NHC is also now watching a tropical wave as it moves across the Atlantic for possible cyclonic development. The system has a 20 percent chance of development over the next 7 days, and updates will be posted as they become available.
Article: NOAA Forecasts Above-Average 2024 Hurricane Season, Expects High Number of Named Cyclones
Click here to learn tips on being prepared during the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Days Remaining in the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: 157 Days
OBSERVATIONS
Sunrise: 5:46 a.m.
Sunset: 7:00 p.m.
Ocean water temperature: Approximately 87°F, approximately 30.5°C.
UV index: 8-10 out of 10 (VERY HIGH)
Tuesday’s high temperature: 90°F, 32.2°C
Tuesday’s low temperature: 81°F, 27.2°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.
