Choppy seas are expected around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the weekend as northerly swells impact the region. Marine alerts have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“Beachgoers: pulses of northerly swell will continue to move across the Atlantic waters, reaching the Atlantic coastlines of Puerto Rico and the USVI, creating life-threatening rip currents due to dangerous breaking waves across the north, east, and west-facing beaches,” according to an update from the NWS on Friday.
“This long-period northerly swell will peak around Saturday, and as [the waves] reach the shore, we expect breaking waves fluctuating between 10 and 15 feet, and locally higher [wave heights],” the NWS warned. (A period of a swell indicates the time between breaking waves.)
“The breaking wave action of these swells will result in beach erosion and coastal flooding, especially around high tides after midnight tonight and Saturday morning,” the NWS stated.
A High Rip Current Risk and a Small Craft Advisory are currently in effect for portions of both U.S. territories until at least Sunday. Additionally, a High Surf Advisory will go into effect at midnight on Saturday morning and last through Sunday.
Swimmers are advised to exercise caution, particularly due to the elevated risk of rip currents.
“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water where it becomes difficult to return to safety,” the NWS stated. “High wave [heights] can wash over jetties and sweep people and pets onto jagged rocks, [and] rough surf may also knock you down,” the NWS cautioned.
“If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help,” the NWS advised. “Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself, and stay afloat while waiting for help,” the NWS said. “If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible, [but] do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly,” the NWS added. (Additional advice on rip current safety is available on NOAA’s website here.)
Boaters and small craft operators are also urged to be vigilant on the seas.
“Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions,” the NWS said.
Looking Ahead
Regarding the weather forecast for the week ahead, the USVI is expected to see a partly cloudy sky with a chance of precipitation each day and the possibility of a slightly higher chance of rain during the middle of the week. Relatively cool temperatures are also anticipated.
“Stable [weather] conditions with mostly clear skies are expected for the weekend and likely into early next week, with a wetter pattern starting Tuesday and a cooling trend into next week,” the NWS noted.
Finally, the National Hurricane Center expects no cyclonic development over the next seven days, and hurricane season will not begin again until June 1.
Preparing for Year-Round Weather Threats
Residents and visitors across the USVI and Puerto Rico are reminded to remain prepared for severe weather events that can occur throughout the year, including earthquakes, flash floods, and wildfires.
Disastrous wildfires have ignited across a large swath of Los Angeles County in Southern California this week, causing extreme and unprecedented devastation. The fires are a stark reminder of the speed at which a blaze can move and cause massive destruction, particularly during times of drought. (According to the United States Agriculture Department, wildfires across Caribbean islands most often occur during the dry season from January to June.)
Individuals across the territory are encouraged to review emergency preparedness tips, build an emergency supplies kit, and sign up for emergency alerts from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
Weather Updates
Further weather forecast information and severe weather alerts are available from the National Weather Service. The Source Weather Page also publishes a daily weather forecast and offers readers the opportunity to view weather forecast videos and disaster preparedness video segments.
