A low-pressure system located approximately 900 miles north of Puerto Rico generated significant northerly swells during the week of March 27th. These swells caused high surf and life-threatening rip currents along the Atlantic coastline of the islands.
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.
A low-pressure system located approximately 900 miles north of Puerto Rico generated significant northerly swells during the week of March 27th. These swells caused high surf and life-threatening rip currents along the Atlantic coastline of the islands.
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 Mar 27, 4:00 AM AST, 8 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Juan PR
400 AM AST Wed Mar 27 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Dry and stable weather conditions are expected to prevail for the
next few days. A weak front will approach the local area from the
northwest on Saturday, increasing the potential for shower
activity. The main hazards for the next several days are marine
and coastal conditions due to the arrival of northerly swells.
Please refer to the marine and beach forecast sections for more
details.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Friday...
While stable conditions are anticipated to persist over the next few
days, passing showers are possible, primarily affecting the northern
regions of Puerto Rico overnight and early morning hours.
Additionally, isolated showers may develop over southern part of
Puerto Rico during the afternoon hours. These showers are not
expected to result in significant rainfall accumulations.
Due to prevailing northerly winds temperature are forecast to be
below normal this time of the year. Overall, temperatures are
expected to range from the mid-80s across the lower elevations to
the mid-70s in the higher elevations.
&&
.LONG TERM...Saturday through Tuesday...
A cold front is forecast to move into the local area by the
beginning of the long-term period. This front will cross the islands
on Saturday morning enhancing the potential for scattered to
numerous showers across the area. However, this front will move
relatively fast and by Saturday night is expected to be out of the
forecast area. The latest Precipitable Water content Analysis is
suggesting values between 1.40 to 1.60 inches during the passing
of the front. By Sunday onwards, a dry airmass will filter into
the region promoting stable weather conditions for much of the
period. Limited or none precipitation is expected. Nonetheless,
passing showers dragged by the trade winds may be observed but
mainly over the regional waters and windward portions of the
islands. A strong surface high pressure located over the western
Atlantic will promote light to moderate winds from the northeast.
By Tuesday, a patch of moisture will approach the region from the
east, therefore, increasing the shower activity across the area.
Overall, warm temperatures will persist throughout the region.
Daytime temperatures will range from the mid to upper 80s across
the lower elevations and in the low 80s across the higher
elevations.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Mainly VFR conditions are expected to prevail across all terminals
during the next 24 hours. Winds will prevail from the North btw 10
to 15 kts aft 27/12z.
&&
.MARINE...
A low-pressure system located approximately 900 miles north of our
local region will persist generating a significant northerly
swell. which commenced impacting the local waters on Tuesday
afternoon. These swells are forecasted to reach their peak between 1
to 3 PM today, gradually diminishing thereafter until Friday.
Another pulse of energy is anticipated to reach our Atlantic local
waters by Sunday,influencing them until Tuesday morning. Winds will
primarily be from the north until Tuesday, when a shift to easterly
winds is expected.
&&
.BEACH FORECAST...
A high risk of rip currents persist along the western, northern, and
eastern coast of Puerto Rico until at least Friday. Additionally, a
High Surf Advisory remains in effect for these areas through
Thursday morning. Culebra, St Thomas, St. John are also
experiencing a high risk of rip currents until at least Thursday.
In the coming days, numerous individuals will flock to our local
beaches, despite the hazardous marine conditions persisting along
the west, north and east coasts. We advise to check out the NWS
marine forecast, visiting beaches along the south side of the islands
and always choosing beaches deemed safe for swimming.
&&
.SJU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PR...High Rip Current Risk through Friday afternoon for PRZ001-002-
005-008-010.
High Surf Advisory until 6 AM AST Thursday for PRZ001-002-005-
008-010.
High Rip Current Risk through Thursday afternoon for PRZ012.
VI...High Rip Current Risk through Thursday afternoon for VIZ001.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until midnight AST Thursday night for
AMZ711-712.
Small Craft Advisory from noon today to midnight AST Thursday
night for AMZ716-742.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM AST Thursday for AMZ741.
&&
SHORT TERM...EM
LONG TERM....GRSPerspectiva sobre las Condiciones Peligrosas del Tiempo Servicio Nacional de Meteorología San Juan PR 416 AM AST miércoles 27 de marzo de 2024 AMZ711>745-PRZ001>013-280830- 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- 416 AM AST miércoles 27 de marzo de 2024 Esta perspectiva sobre las condiciones peligrosas del tiempo es para sectores de Puerto Rico. .DÍA UNO...Hoy y esta noche .Condiciones Marítimas...Oleaje igual o mayor de 7 pies a través de las aguas del Atlántico y pasajes locales. Condiciones peligrosas para embarcaciones pequeñas. .Corrientes Marinas...Las corrientes marinas amenazantes a la vida son probables en la zona de olas particularmente del noroeste, norte y noreste, incluyendo Culebra y Vieques. .DÍAS DOS A SIETE...jueves a martes Una marejada del norte continuará resultando en condiciones marinas y costeras peligrosas durante al menos el viernes. Los bañistas instan a evitar visitar las playas expuestas en las áreas costeras del norte entre el jueves y el viernes. Un frente frío se acercará a las islas locales desde el noroeste el sábado aumentando el potencial de actividad de aguaceros hasta el domingo. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIÓN OBSERVADORA... No será necesaria la activación de observadores. AMZ716-726-VIZ001-002-280830- San Thomas San John e islas adyacentes-Santa Cruz- Aguas cercanas a la costa del Atlántico y aguas costeras adyacentes del Caribe- 416 AM AST miércoles 27 de marzo de 2024 Esta Perspectiva sobre las Condiciones Peligrosas del Tiempo es para sectores de las Islas Vírgenes Americanas. .DÍA UNO...Hoy y esta noche .Condiciones Marítimas...Oleaje igual o mayor de 7 pies a través de las aguas del Atlántico y pasajes locales. Condiciones peligrosas para embarcaciones pequeñas. .Corrientes Marinas...Las corrientes marinas amenazantes a la vida son probables en la zona de olas particularmente San Thomas y San John. .DÍAS DOS A SIETE...jueves a martes Una marejada del norte continuará resultando en condiciones marinas y costeras peligrosas durante al menos el viernes. Los bañistas instan a evitar visitar las playas expuestas en las áreas costeras del norte entre el jueves y el viernes. Un frente frío se acercará a las islas locales desde el noroeste el sábado aumentando el potencial de actividad de aguaceros hasta el domingo. .COMUNICADO SOBRE INFORMACIÓN OBSERVADORA... No será necesaria la activación de observadores.
2 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
A 40-year-old male tourist and his two daughters were swept away by rip currents at Montones Beach in Isabela. The man managed to rescue the girls but was also dragged and unable to get out of the water. Paramedics from State Medical Emergencies provided first aid and confirmed that the individual no longer had vital signs.
A rescue operation began on March 28 for a 26-year-old tourist, an active duty U.S. marine, and a resident of Massachusetts who was swept away by rip currents on La Pared beach in Luquillo on March 27. The Coast Guard rescue crews suspended search efforts on April 1 in support of local emergency response agencies. He is presumed dead.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Current, Northwest | 2024-03-27 | 40 | Male | In Water | Direct |
| Rip Current, Northeast | 2024-03-27 | 26 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Puerto Rico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Puerto Rico, March 2024
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: 1164913, 1164924.