Tuesday Will Be Partly Sunny, Scattered Showers, Breezy, 88°F – EXCESSIVE HEAT –
Updated 7/20/26 at 4:22 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
! A NEW V.I. Source Weekly Weather Video is available here!
TUESDAY’S WEATHER FORECAST: 7/21/26
Happy Tuesday!
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the weather in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday is forecast to be partly sunny, with scattered showers as a more unsettled weather pattern evolves. The temperature is forecast to rise to around 88°F (31.6°C), and the heat index is expected to remain high; heat alerts may be issued. Winds will be gusty, coming from the east, at approximately 11 to 13 mph. The chance of rain on Tuesday is 60%.
For Tuesday night, conditions are expected to be partly cloudy, with a chance of scattered showers. The low temperature is forecast to fall to about 79°F (26.1°C). Winds will be gusty, coming from the east-northeast, at approximately 14 mph. The chance of rain on Tuesday night is 30%.
“The heat threat is projected to intensify further on Tuesday and Wednesday as increased tropical moisture returns. Additional Heat Advisories or even Extreme Heat Warnings may be issued for some lower elevation areas. A shift to a more unsettled weather pattern is anticipated from Tuesday through Wednesday, with additional changes expected later in the weekend and early next week as environmental conditions become more favorable for showers and isolated thunderstorms, especially in the afternoons. There is also a slight risk of localized urban and small-stream flooding. Elevated fire weather conditions persisted on Monday, as critically dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and breezy conditions continue to support rapid fire spread. Multiple fire incidents have already been reported across Puerto Rico, highlighting the ongoing fire danger,” 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 4:00 p.m. AST on Monday indicates a partly cloudy sky across the USVI. Precipitation is possible.
MARINE WEATHER UPDATE
National Weather Service forecasters report that wave heights on Tuesday are expected to build from between 2 and 3 feet.
Yellow = Limited Risk Orange = Elevated Risk Red = Significant Risk
The water temperature is approximately 85°F, roughly 28-29°C.
NOAA Ocean Water Temperature Map: 7/20/26:
Risk of Rip Currents:
The NWS explained that the risk of rip currents is projected to be low to moderate across the USVI on Tuesday.
“The prevailing easterly winds will maintain a moderate risk of life-threatening rip currents across many beaches of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands throughout much of the week. Beachgoers should swim near lifeguards, heed local beach warnings, and never swim alone,” 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 Tropical Depression Two near the Gulf coast of the U.S. mainland. The system is expected to intensify into Tropical Storm Bertha soon. Meanwhile, the Pacific remains more active. NOAA’s Global Tropics Hazards Outlook notes that the Atlantic basin is expected to remain relatively quiet through much of July and into early August.
VI Source article: NOAA Outlook Calls for Below-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season, But Preparedness Remains Critical
OBSERVATIONS
Sunrise: 5:54 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!
