Friday Will Be Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers, Breezy, Hazy, 87°F – EXCESSIVE HEAT –
Updated 6/18/26 at 12:36 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
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! VI Source article: 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Officially Begins as Forecasters Urge Continued Preparedness
FRIDAY’S WEATHER FORECAST: 6/19/26
Happy Friday and Happy Juneteenth!
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the weather in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday is forecast to be partly cloudy, with a chance of scattered showers due to moisture associated with a nearby tropical wave. The sky will be hazy as Saharan dust arrives across the islands. The temperature is forecast to rise to around 87°F (30.5°C), and the heat index is expected to continue to be high. Winds will be gusty, coming from the east, at approximately 18 mph, with gusts reaching 23 mph. The chance of rain on Friday is 30%.
For Friday night, conditions are expected to be mostly clear, hazy due to Saharan dust, and with isolated showers. The low temperature is forecast to fall to about 79°F (26.1°C). Winds will be gusty, coming from the east, at approximately 17 to 20 mph. The chance of rain on Friday night is 10%.
“Dangerous heat index values are expected each afternoon as hot temperatures combine with the available moisture, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially in coastal and urban areas, poorly ventilated locations, and among vulnerable populations. Moderate to high concentrations of Saharan dust will spread across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from early Friday through at least late Saturday night, reducing air quality and visibility while potentially aggravating respiratory conditions among sensitive groups. A tropical wave will move across the region on Sunday, increasing the risk of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, urban and small-stream flooding, and isolated flash flooding across portions of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” the NWS said.
Yellow = Limited Risk Orange = Elevated Risk Red = Significant Risk
Yellow = Limited Risk Orange = Elevated Risk Red = Significant Risk
Yellow = Limited Risk Orange = Elevated Risk Red = Significant Risk
Below: Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 12:10 p.m. AST on Thursday indicates a partly cloudy sky across the USVI. Precipitation is possible.
MARINE WEATHER UPDATE
National Weather Service forecasters report that wave heights on Friday are expected to build from between 3 and 5 feet.
The NWS provided the following details:
“A broad surface high pressure building over the Central Atlantic will promote moderate to locally fresh east to east-southeast winds over the next several days, resulting in choppy seas across the local waters and Caribbean passages. Small craft should exercise caution. Shower activity will gradually increase on Thursday and Friday, as a tropical wave approaches the Caribbean Basin, leading to localized heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and reduced visibility. A dense layer of Saharan Dust will also gradually filter into the region by this evening onwards, resulting in hazy skies, reduced visibility, and poor air quality through the weekend. Another tropical wave will approach the area late in the weekend,” the NWS explained.
Yellow = Limited Risk Orange = Elevated Risk Red = Significant Risk
The water temperature is approximately 84°F, roughly 28-29°C.
NOAA Ocean Water Temperature Map: 6/18/26:
Risk of Rip Currents:
The NWS explained that the risk of rip currents is projected to be low to moderate across the USVI on Friday.
The NWS provided the following details:
“Breezy to locally windy conditions will maintain a low to moderate risk of rip currents during the next few days. The moderate risk is forecast to spread across the islands, with most beaches being under a moderate risk to start next week. Beachgoers should also remain alert for dangerous lightning near isolated thunderstorms. Saharan dust concentrations arriving this afternoon onwards will also result in hazy skies and reduced air quality throughout the weekend. High heat indices will also persist during the forecast period; sensitive groups should take necessary precautions,” the NWS said.
Clear = Low Rip Current Risk Yellow = Moderate Rip Current Risk Red = High Rip Current Risk
The NWS reminds swimmers that even when there is a lower risk of rip currents, they “can still form near structures like groins, jetties, reefs, and piers.” More information is available here.
Swimmers are encouraged to exercise caution and understand how to escape the pull of a dangerous rip current.
TROPIC WATCH
Tropical Activity:
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1, 2026, and will run until Nov. 30.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, the first-named cyclone of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The system is producing inclement weather across the southeastern USA, and it may reemerge off the mid-Atlantic coast in the next couple of days with a slight possibility of additional tropical development. Travelers to and from the USVI should monitor flights for any possible delays or cancellations.
VI Source article: NOAA Outlook Calls for Below-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season, But Preparedness Remains Critical
VI Source article covering AccuWeather’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast is available here!
Additionally, a VI Source article covering Colorado State University’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast is available here!
Super Typhoon Sinlaku recently caused extreme damage to the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Read more and learn how to help in a VI Source article here.
OBSERVATIONS
Sunrise: 5:45 a.m.
Sunset: 6:59 p.m.
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.
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
- Additional articles about earthquakes in the Caribbean are available here and here!
- From Calm to Catastrophic: The Threat of Rapid Hurricane Intensification
- Three Decades After Marilyn, Forecasting and Emergency Preparedness Have Evolved in the USVI
- Please remain prepared for earthquakes and flash flooding across the USVI.
- Three Decades After Marilyn, Forecasting and Emergency Preparedness Have Evolved in the USVI
An on-camera interview between Source weather reporter Jesse Daley and Daryl Jaschen, the director of VITEMA, is available here!
