Alert archive / U.S. Virgin Islands / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS JSJ
NWS JSJ issued this flash flood warning at Apr 13, 2026, 11:45 AM CDT. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 13, 2026, 11:45 AM CDT (16:45 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 13, 2026, 1:48 PM CDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS JSJ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Flood severity
- None
The radar
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:45 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The text
As transmitted.
013
WGCA52 TJSJ 131645
FFWSJU
VIC010-131900-
/O.NEW.TJSJ.FF.W.0016.260413T1645Z-260413T1900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service San Juan PR
1245 PM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
The National Weather Service in San Juan has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Saint Croix in Virgin Islands...
* Until 300 PM AST.
* At 1245 PM AST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
producing flash flooding.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 1778 6476 1778 6475 1775 6471 1777 6466
1776 6457 1769 6474 1771 6477 1769 6477
1770 6478 1770 6479 1768 6490 1777 6487
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
CVB1 follow-up statement
362
WGCA72 TJSJ 131848
FFSSJU
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Juan PR
248 PM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
VIC010-131858-
/O.CAN.TJSJ.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260413T1900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Saint Croix VI-
248 PM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SAINT CROIX HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A
FLOOD ADVISORY...
&&
LAT...LON 1778 6476 1778 6475 1775 6471 1777 6466
1776 6457 1769 6474 1771 6477 1769 6477
1770 6478 1770 6479 1768 6490 1777 6487
$$
CVBWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS JSJ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Apr 13, 1:13 AM CDT, 10 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026 * A wet and unstable weather pattern will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms across the area, with a Flash Flood Watch in effect from 10 AM today through Wednesday. * An elevated to significant flooding risk is expected across the islands; residents are urged to exercise caution, avoid flood- prone areas, and never cross flooded roads. * The wettest period is expected from tonight into early Tuesday morning, when the heaviest rainfall and most persistent shower activity are likely. * A moderate risk of rip currents will persist across all local beaches, creating hazardous conditions for swimmers. * Across the U.S. Virgin Islands, an elevated to significant flooding risk is expected from early Tuesday morning through the day as periods of heavy rainfall impact the area.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 1:13 AM CDT, 10 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Juan PR
213 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, HYDROLOGY...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
* A wet and unstable weather pattern will bring widespread
showers and thunderstorms across the area, with a Flash Flood
Watch in effect from 10 AM today through Wednesday.
* An elevated to significant flooding risk is expected across
the islands; residents are urged to exercise caution, avoid
flood- prone areas, and never cross flooded roads.
* The wettest period is expected from tonight into early Tuesday
morning, when the heaviest rainfall and most persistent shower
activity are likely.
* A moderate risk of rip currents will persist across all local
beaches, creating hazardous conditions for swimmers.
* Across the U.S. Virgin Islands, an elevated to significant flooding
risk is expected from early Tuesday morning through the day as
periods of heavy rainfall impact the area.
&&
.Short Term(Today through Wednesday)...
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
Moderate to strong showers affected the Atlantic offshore and nearshore
waters for most of the night, resulting in hazardous marine
conditions due to locally higher seas and gusty winds. Given the
prevailing conditions, several Special Marine Warnings and Marine
Weather Statements were issued throughout the night. As the night
progressed, by 2 AM, showers shifted southward into coastal areas,
affecting portions of eastern and northeastern Puerto Rico,
including municipalities near Naguabo, Fajardo, and Rio Grande.
Overnight temperatures remained in the lower 70s across coastal
areas, with even cooler conditions across the mountains.
For today, the forecast of a wetter and more unstable weather
pattern remains on track. As a result, a Flash Flood Watch will be
in effect from 10 AM today through Wednesday across the entire
area. At upper levels, a deep trough with its axis just over
Hispaniola places the islands under a divergent region, favoring
vertical development and widespread thunderstorm activity. This
upper-level feature will allow colder temperatures at 500 mb,
ranging between -9°C and -10°C, which are around two standard
deviations below climatological normals. At the surface, a frontal
boundary and the associated pre-frontal trough will reach the
local area. Winds will shift to a northerly component from this
afternoon into early Tuesday as the frontal boundary moves
southward across the region. Additionally, abundant deep moisture
will be in place, with relative humidity values from 850 mb up to
500 mb near the 75th percentile. All of these factors provide a
well-defined setup for a very convective day. Model guidance
suggests an increase in showers during the morning hours, with
activity expanding and intensifying through the afternoon.
According to the highest-resolution models, a very active weather
day is expected, with the strongest convection developing across
the interior and then moving into northwestern and interior Puerto
Rico. By late afternoon into the evening, showers will affect
northeastern areas, extending into Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. An important factor for today will be the surface
wind pattern, as slow-moving showers will favor higher rainfall
accumulations in addition to the widespread shower activity. As a
result, an elevated to significant flooding threat is expected
across the entire forecast area today. Residents are advised to
avoid rivers and not to cross flooded roads or low-lying areas.
On Tuesday in the early morning hours into Wednesday, conditions
will remain on the unstable side, as the upper-level trough
continues to deepen, leaving a cut-off low just over the area.
This feature will be reflected through the column, resulting in a
low at 500 mb and an induced surface trough extending from around
1000 mb up to 700 mb. The presence of colder temperatures aloft
and the slow movement of this feature will continue to support
enhanced instability and prolonged convective activity across the
region. Given the expected conditions deteriorate weather
conditions are forecast across the islands. Given the expected
rainfall accumulations and the already saturated soils, this
pattern will maintain an elevated to significant risk of urban and
river flooding, as well as potential mudslides in areas of steep
terrain. Again, a Flood Watch is in effect from 10 AM this morning
through 8 AM Wednesday for all of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Residents and visitors should continue to monitor the
latest weather information.
&&
.Long Term(Thursday through Monday)...
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
No major changes were made to the long-term forecast, as the wet and
unsettled weather pattern is likely to persist into the weekend,
gradually improving by the first part of the next workweek. A
surface high pressure is expected to build over the Western
extending into the Central Atlantic, promoting SE-E winds through
Sunday. As a surface trough over the Hispaniola weakens, the
pressure gradient will likely increase, with winds gradually
strengthening throughout the period, resulting in breezy to windy
conditions across the coastal areas of the islands. In the mid to
upper levels, the deep-layered trough may linger and deepen into the
tropics, with our CWA under the favorable side for convection. From
the latest model guidance, moisture content will remain higher for
this time of the year, with PWAT values likely between 1.8 and 2.0
inches low chance of higher values. Additionally, the low to mid-
level moisture content should remain higher than normal, with model
soundings suggesting skinny profiles, particularly on Friday and
Saturday. In terms of convection, the influence of the trough will
maintain slightly cooler than normal mid-level temperatures (500 mb
temperatures around -8 degrees Celsius), a jet streak with 250 mb
winds between 60 and 80 knots, and divergence aloft, triggering
upper-level dynamics. Under these conditions, forced vertical motion
will result in cloud growth and ventilation, favorable for deep
convection. Additionally, the Galvez-Davison Index (GDI) continues
to suggest the potential for isolated to scattered thunderstorms
across the CWA, particularly in the afternoons over interior into
north/northwestern Puerto Rico and in the night across regional
waters, eastern Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As
mentioned in the previous discussion, the weather event in the short-
term forecast may result in saturated soils and higher-than-normal
river levels. A factor that may slightly inhibit deeper convection
is the winds, which may lead to more progressive showers instead of
stationary ones. Nevertheless, with the expected weather forecast
through Sunday, showers and thunderstorms over the CWA will increase
the flooding and lightning potential. Rainfall accumulations will
likely result in urban and small stream flooding, including
localized flash floods, including landslides, and rapid river rises.
Additionally, thunderstorms may result in gusty winds, reduced
visibility, and lightning. Residents and visitors of the islands are
encouraged to keep monitoring conditions and the next issuance of
the long-term forecast. By Monday, as another surface high pressure
builds over the western Atlantic and wind shifts from the NE, the
weather pattern should gradually improve with a drier air mass
filtering into the region.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
MVFR to IFR conditions are expected across all TAF sites today due
to an increase in SHRA and TSRA activity. Periods of reduced VIS
and lowering CIGs are anticipated, with tempo IFR conditions
possible in heavier showers and thunderstorms. Mountain
obscurations will persist, especially across interior and western
sections. Winds will remain VRB through 13/15Z, then increase to
around 10 KT from the E-SE as the surface trough lifts north of
the area. Thereafter, winds will become light and variable again,
before gradually shifting to the NE around 14/03Z.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
Moderate easterly trades will persist through the period
as high pressure remains over the central Atlantic, with periods of
locally fresh winds. Combined with ongoing northerly swell, this
will maintain choppy conditions across the Atlantic waters and
passages. Increasing showers and thunderstorms early next week will
lead to locally hazardous marine conditions, including gusty winds
and reduced visibility, though impacts will be brief and variable.
By midweek, a combination of stronger winds and building swell may
result in hazardous conditions for small craft, particularly across
the Atlantic waters.
&&
.BEACH FORECAST...
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
Rip current conditions have improved as wave
energy has decreased, no longer supporting a High Rip Current Risk.
However, a moderate risk of rip currents is in place for most north-
and east-facing beaches of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and
Culebra, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, meaning rip currents
are still possible and can be life-threatening. A low risk will
likely persist across western Puerto Rico, from Anasco and
Mayaguez southward and east along the Caribbean coast through
southeastern Puerto Rico, including Patillas, Maunabo, and
Yabucoa. Increasing winds early to midweek could lead to a return
of more hazardous marine and coastal conditions. Exercise caution
at the beach, especially along exposed coasts. Sharing is saving.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 210 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
As a mid-to upper-level trough approaches from the northwest, the
likelihood of flooding is expected until at least midweek. An
elevated flooding risk is forecast through this period. The
heaviest activity is anticipated for this evening into early
morning hours on Tuesday. Although a level of uncertainty is
still present, the days with the highest potential for flooding
are today and Tuesday. However, above normal moisture will
persist through late in the week. The likelihood of urban and
small stream flooding, isolated flash flooding, landslides and
rapid river rises continues to increase. Residents and visitors
are urged to remain alert to changing weather conditions and to
avoid flooded roadways. A Flood Watch (FFASJU) and an Hydrologic
Outlook (ESFSJU) are currently in effect to highlight this
flooding potential.
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...Flood Watch from 10 AM AST this morning through Wednesday
morning for PRZ001>013.
VI...Flood Watch from 10 AM AST this morning through Wednesday
morning for VIZ001-002.
AM...None.
SHORT TERM, AVIATION,KEY MESSAGES...LIS
LONG TERM....MNG
MARINE & BEACH FORECAST...ICPIn the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 13, 10:09 AM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Juan PR
1109 AM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0749 AM Landslide 4 N Juncal 18.37N 66.93W
04/13/2026 San Sebastian PR 911 Call Center
PR-119 near Calle Casa del Biologo in Bo
Aibonito Beltral in San Sebastian affected
by landslide due to previous rainfall
activity.
&&
MNGSpecial weather statement, Apr 13, 11:35 AM CDT, 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Juan PR
1235 PM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
PRZ006-007-009>011-131730-
Mayaguez and Vicinity PR-Central Interior PR-Western Interior PR-
Southwest PR-Ponce and Vicinity PR-
1235 PM AST Mon Apr 13 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT INTERIOR AND WESTERN
MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH 130 PM AST...
At 1234 PM AST, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from Hormigueros to near
Adjuntas. These thunderstorms were nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail possible.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 1827 6648 1798 6654 1798 6675 1801 6677
1799 6680 1798 6678 1798 6679 1797 6720
1800 6720 1801 6716 1804 6720 1814 6718
1814 6719 1815 6719 1820 6715 1826 6718
1831 6718
TIME...MOT...LOC 1634Z 202DEG 51KT 1814 6714 1812 6672
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MNGThe office that day
Everything else NWS JSJ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 8:05 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | JSJ | 100 min | |
| Apr 13, 8:32 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | JSJ | 4 hr | |
| Apr 13, 9:45 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | JSJ | 2 hr | |
| Apr 13, 11:15 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | JSJ | 30 min | |
| Apr 13, 12:13 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | JSJ | 2 hr | |
| Apr 13, 1:48 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | JSJ | 2 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in U.S. Virgin Islands, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.