Updated 3/25/23 at 12:30 p.m. AST
VI SOURCE WEATHER UPDATES
! MARINE ALERTS ARE IN EFFECT
Series: “Extreme Weather in the Caribbean”
3/18/23: A NEW WEEKLY WEATHER VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE!
- Part 1: Caribbean Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- Part 2: Caribbean Volcanoes
- Part 3: Rip Currents
- Part 4: Hurricanes
SATURDAY’S FORECAST
Happy Saturday!
Saturday will be sunny with a chance for a passing shower, primarily in the morning. The high temperature will be approximately 81°F, 27.2°C, with winds out of the east-northeast at about 17 to 20 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. The chance of rain on Saturday is about 20%.
On Saturday night, skies will be mostly clear, with a chance of scattered showers, primarily during the overnight hours. The low temperature will be around 73°F, 22.7°C, with winds out of the east-northeast at about 17 to 20 mph. The chance of rain on Saturday night is approximately 20%.
Dry conditions may lead to the possibility of “fire weather.” Alerts will be posted if and when they become available.
Below: Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 11:50 a.m. AST on Saturday indicates mostly clear skies over the USVI and Puerto Rico.
MARINE FORECAST
! MARINE ALERTS ARE IN EFFECT
Seas will become rough again this weekend due to a northeasterly swell.
A “High Rip Current Risk” is in effect for portions of the USVI and Puerto Rico until at least 6 p.m. on Monday.
A “Small Craft Advisory” is in effect until at least 2 a.m. AST on Monday.
On Saturday, seas will be 4 to 6 feet, occasional seas up to 8 feet, and a swell period of 10 seconds. Winds will be out of the east at around 15 to 20 knots.
On Saturday night, seas will be 4 to 6 feet, occasional seas up to 8 feet, and a swell period of 12 seconds. Winds will be out of the east at about 10 to 15 knots, gusting up to 25 knots.
The water temperature is approximately 78°F, 26°C.
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
Rip Currents: There will be a high risk for powerful rip currents across the US Virgin Islands and portions of Puerto Rico on Saturday. Learn about rip current safety in an interview between the NWS and the VI Source here.
TROPIC WATCH
Tropical Activity: The tropics are quiet.
The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season will begin on June 1. A United Kingdom-based organization, “Tropical Storm Risk” (TSR), has issued a prediction for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The group is expecting a below-average hurricane season. Read an interview with TSR here. (Another interview article between the Source and TSR will be coming soon!)
Days until 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins: 68 days
Hurricane Preparedness: Extreme Weather in the Caribbean Part 4: Hurricanes
OBSERVATIONS
Sunrise: 6:22 a.m.
Sunset: 6:33 p.m.
Ocean water temperature: 78°F, 26°C.
UV index today: 10+ out of 10
Friday’s high temperature: 83°F, 28.3°C
Friday’s low temperature: 74°F, 23.3°C
Preparation for extreme weather events in the Caribbean, such as earthquakes and tropical cyclones, is essential. 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.
