Afternoon convective activity over south-central to southwest PR produced a funnel cloud over SW Puerto Rico before gradually dissipating and moving offshore on December 7th.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SJU wrote it up.
Afternoon convective activity over south-central to southwest PR produced a funnel cloud over SW Puerto Rico before gradually dissipating and moving offshore on December 7th.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS San Juan, PR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 7, 11:46 AM AST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service San Juan PR
1146 AM AST Thu Dec 7 2023
.SYNOPSIS...Anticipate generally stable weather conditions today,
characterized by mostly clear skies and limited shower activity
under a light breeze. A transition is likely from Friday into the
weekend as a building surface high pressure generates increased
wind speeds across the region and a cold front settles north of
the islands. While an enhanced frequency of showers moving into
windward areas from the local waters is likely with these
conditions, the remnants of a cold front will contribute to this
wet trend during the weekend into early next week. Starting on
Friday, hazardous seas for small craft and life-threatening rip
currents for beachgoers are anticipated due to the impact of
northwesterly swells and increasing winds.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Saturday...
A stable weather pattern is forecast over the next few days as a mid-
upper level ridge remains over the eastern Caribbean. This will
maintain dry and stable conditions aloft, while suppressing
convection. The presence of drier air today across the northeastern
Caribbean will also continue to limit shower development over the
islands and regional waters. An induced pre-frontal trough is
resulting in the weakening of the local pressure gradient and
trade wind flow today, allowing light winds to exist for most
areas with the exception of higher speeds across coastal areas due
to seabreeze enhancement. Under this expected pattern there will
be the potential for shower development mainly over the interior
and west-southwest sections of Puerto Rico.
Late tonight into Friday, a polar trough will move eastward
across the west Atlantic, with it's moisture field approaching the
northwestern corner of the region. By Friday the winds will begin
to prevail from the east-northeast, increasing in strength as a
surface high pressure builds across the western Atlantic. This
will result in a cooler advective pattern and better chance for
quick passing overnight and early morning showers that will
continue into Saturday. This acceleration of the trade winds will
also assist the advection of a moist airmass into eastern
Caribbean, with the northern boundary moving into the southern
half of the region. This will increase the rate of passing showers
on Saturday afternoon into the night across eastern Puerto Rico
and the USVI. However, due to stronger winds, showers should be
fast moving without any significant rainfall accumulations.
.LONG TERM...Sunday through Thursday...
While there is a possibility of limited afternoon convective
development, a cool advective pattern, typically the primary
source of shower development during the local fall season, will
prevail. A dominant mid-level ridge will persist over the northern
Caribbean, sustaining a trade wind cap inversion and dry air
aloft, suppressing shower development. However, weak upper-level
troughs will briefly weaken the trade wind cap and facilitate the
influx of deep moisture into the region. Meanwhile, at the
surface, a subtropical surface high pressure system building over
the western-central Atlantic will maintain a tightened local
pressure across the Northeastern Caribbean and, thus, breezy to
locally windy conditions are likely across the forecast area.
These increased winds will frequently steer patches of shallow
moisture, including moisture related to the remnants of a cold
front and an easterly disturbance early in the forecast period.
According to model guidance, precipitable water values are
anticipated to remain within typical seasonal levels (between 1.2
and 1.6 inches). However, above-normal moisture levels (1.6 inches
or higher) are likely on Sunday into Monday and later in the
workweek, aligning with the timing of the remnants and easterly
disturbances and a weakened trade wind cap. These brief
transitions will be evident in the increased frequency of showers
moving inland from the waters, especially during nighttime over
eastern Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Despite this,
hazard risks through the long-term forecast period should center
on winds-related threats, mainly across coastal areas and lower
elevations.
&&
.AVIATION...VFR conditions will prevail for all the TAF sites during
the period. Winds will remain light through the morning, increasing
from seabreeze by 06/14Z. Shallow afternoon convection may result
in RA, mainly over the interior of Puerto Rico resulting in a lower
ceiling over TJPS and TJBQ from 06/16 to 06/22Z. However, VFR
conditions will prevail.
&&
.MARINE...Recent observations from the CariCOOS buoy network near
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have shown consistent
marine conditions with wave heights below 3 feet.
Marine conditions are forecast to deteriorate as a long-period
northwesterly swell and increasing winds impact the regional
waters starting Friday and continuing through the weekend. Seas
are anticipated to reach up to 8 feet, with occasional seas up to
10 feet, while winds will gradually reach 15-20 knots on Friday
and escalate to 20-25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots over the
weekend. Small Craft Advisories are currently in place for the
offshore Atlantic waters and coastal waters of northern Puerto
Rico. With hazardous conditions expected to expand across the
local waters, additional Small Craft Advisories will be required
from Friday evening onward. For more information on current marine
risks, refer to the Marine Weather Message (MWWSJU).
&&
.SURF ZONE...A moderate risk of rip currents remains for most
northern beaches of Puerto Rico and the eastern beaches of Saint
Croix today. However, deteriorating marine conditions will also
impact beach conditions, with breaking waves increasing to 6-7
feet, likely generating life-threatening rip current conditions
from Friday onward. If the forecasted conditions persist, a Rip
Current Statement will be issued later today, covering beaches
from Rincon eastward to Fajardo across northern Puerto Rico and
the beaches of Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For
details on current surf zone risks, refer to the Coastal Hazard
Message (CFWSJU).
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...None.
VI...None.
AM...Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM Friday to 8 PM GMT Sunday for
AMZ711.
Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Friday to 8 PM GMT Sunday for
AMZ712.
&&
SHORT TERM...RC
LONG TERM....ICP
AVIATION...RCPerspectiva sobre las Condiciones Peligrosas del Tiempo Servicio Nacional de Meteorología San Juan PR 413 AM AST jueves 7 de diciembre de 2023 AMZ711>745-PRZ001>013-080815- San Juan y Vecindad-Noreste-Sureste-Este Interior- Norte Central-Central Interior-Ponce y Vecindad-Noroeste- Oeste Interior-Mayagüez y Vecindad-Suroeste-Culebra-Vieques- Las aguas cercanas y fuera de la costa del Atlántico y del Caribe- 413 AM AST jueves 7 de diciembre de 2023 Esta perspectiva sobre las condiciones peligrosas del tiempo es para sectores de Puerto Rico. .DÍA UNO...Hoy y esta noche .Condiciones Marítimas...Oleaje en aumento igual o mayor de 7 pies a través de las aguas mar afuera del Atlántico tarde esta noche. Condiciones peligrosas para embarcaciones pequeñas. .Corrientes Marinas...Corrientes marinas amenazantes a la vida son posibles en la zona de olas rompientes, particularmente en las costas del norte y este. .DÍAS DOS A SIETE...viernes a miércoles Se espera un patrón de tiempo de temporada con condiciones generalmente estables durante los próximos días. Sin embargo, las condiciones marítimas se deteriorarán comenzando esta noche hasta el fin de semana debido a la llegada de una marejada del norte y un aumento en los vientos. Esto causará condiciones marítimas y costeras peligrosas a través de la mayoría de las aguas y playas locales este fin de semana hasta el miércoles. Los operadores de embarcaciones pequeñas y los visitantes de las playas necesitarán ejercer precaución. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIÓN REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES... No será necesaria la activación de observadores. AMZ716-726-VIZ001-002-080815- San Thomas San John e islas adyacentes-Santa Cruz- Aguas cercanas a la costa del Atlántico y aguas costeras adyacentes del Caribe- 413 AM AST jueves 7 de diciembre de 2023 Esta Perspectiva sobre las Condiciones Peligrosas del Tiempo es para sectores de las Islas Vírgenes Americanas. .DÍA UNO...Hoy y esta noche .Corrientes Marinas...Corrientes marinas amenazantes a la vida son posibles en la zona de olas rompientes, particularmente para las playas de Santa Cruz. .DÍAS DOS A SIETE...viernes a miércoles Se espera un patrón de tiempo de temporada con condiciones generalmente estables durante los próximos días. Sin embargo, las condiciones marítimas se deteriorarán comenzando esta noche hasta el fin de semana debido a la llegada de una marejada del norte y un aumento en los vientos. Esto causará condiciones marítimas y costeras peligrosas a través de la mayoría de las aguas y playas locales este fin de semana hasta el miércoles. Los operadores de embarcaciones pequeñas y los visitantes de las playas necesitarán ejercer precaución. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIÓN REPORTADA POR OBSERVADORES... No será necesaria la activación de observadores.
The San Juan radar (TJUA), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:34 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Several public reports on social media mentioned a funnel cloud over Cabo Rojo, PR. No reports of it touching down. No reports of damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, December 2023
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1151343.