The National Weather Service in San Juan has issued a flash flood watch for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as of 5:50 p.m. Sunday.
N.W.S. said an active tropical wave will move into the area late tonight and spread rain and thunderstorms across the area through at least Monday and Tuesday. Rain amounts will be sufficient to cause flooding in some areas of higher terrain and also areas where thunderstorms persist.
Rainfall totals between 1 and 2 inches with isolated higher amounts are expected across the U.S. Virgin Islands, N.W.S. This will cause guts and small streams to overflow their banks. Some of these rises will happen very rapidly when thunderstorms dump heavy amounts in a short period of time. There is also a possibility of mudslides in steep terrain after the first 24 hours of rainfall.
Moisture associated with this tropical wave will continue into Wednesday with some heavy rains indicated so the the watch will be extended if needed on Tuesday.
Precautionary and preparedness action
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation, N.W.S. said.
Residents are advised to monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
The National Hurricane Center described the system as a persistent area of cloudiness and thunderstorms located over the eastern Caribbean Sea. The disturbance is expected to move west-northwestward to northwestward across the north-central Caribbean Sea during the next few days, producing locally heavy rainfall.
N.H.C. said little development of the disturbance is expected due to interaction with land. However, the system is forecast to emerge over the Straits of Florida by the end of the week where environmental conditions could be a little more conducive for development to occur.
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