120  
FXCA20 KWBC 091232  
PMDCA  
 
TROPICAL DISCUSSION - INTERNATIONAL DESKS  
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD  
832 AM EDT THU MAY 09 2024  
 
WEEKLY DISCUSSION FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE USVI MAY 09/12UTC:  
 
SYNOPSIS: SATELLITE IMAGERY AND MODELS SHOW THAT AN EXTENSIVE  
MID-UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES EXTENDING FROM BERMUDA INTO THE  
NORTHEAST CARIBBEAN. SHORT WAVE VORTICES ARE PROPAGATING EASTWARD  
ALONG THE BASE OF THE MAIN TROUGH. THE EASTERNMOST SHORT WAVE  
TROUGH EXTENDS ALONG 58-60W. AS THE TROUGH EXITS THE DRIER AIR  
MASS TO THE WEST IS SUSTAINING DRYING TREND OF THE MID AND UPPER  
TROPOSPHERE OVER THE LOCAL ISLANDS. THAT BEING SAID...PRECIPITABLE  
WATER VALUES REMAIN CLOSE TO 50MM OR ABOVE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF  
THE YEAR. THIS IS IN ASSOCIATION WITH A ZONALLY ORIENTED MOIST  
PLUME PRODUCED BY A PERSISTENT STATIONARY FRONT THAT HAS LOST  
BAROCLINICITY IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. INCREASINGLY UPPER CONVERGENT  
CONDITIONS ARE ALSO PLAYING A ROLE IN LIMITING VERTICAL  
DEVELOPMENT...THUS EXPECT A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN THE COVERAGE  
AND INTENSITY OF DIURNAL CONVECTION TODAY WITH RESPECT TO EARLIER  
THIS WEEK.  
 
FORECAST: AFTER SEVERAL DAYS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE MOIST  
PLUME AND PROPAGATING SHORT WAVE MID-UPPER TROUGHS IN THE  
WESTERLIES...THE MID-UPPER TROPOSPHERIC PATTERN IS FORECAST TO  
GRADUALLY EVOLVE INTO A DRIER ONE. MODELS AGREE ON THE MID-LEVEL  
RIDGE CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER MEXICO/GULF OF MEXICO/WESTERN  
CARIBBEAN CONTINUING TO BUILD EASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL AND  
EASTERN CARIBBEAN...SETTING FOOTHOLD OVER PUERTO RICO BETWEEN  
SUNDAY AND MONDAY...TO PERSIST INTO AT LEAST MID-WEEK. THIS IS  
CONSISTENT WITH AN EXPECTED STRENGTHENING OF THE TRADE WIND CAP  
EARLY NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN VERTICAL  
DEVELOPMENT AND COVERAGE OF DEEP CONVECTION STARTING ON SUNDAY.  
AVAILABLE MOISTURE IS FORECAST TO DECREASE...BUT TO REMAIN WITHIN  
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS. HOWEVER...LESS FAVORABLE DYNAMICS FOR  
ASCENT WILL YIELD TO MORE CONSERVATIVE RAINFALL ACCUMULATION  
STARTING SUNDAY.  
 
IN THE MEAN TIME...THE MID-UPPER TROUGH PATTERN IS FORECAST TO  
PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY. LIMITED AVAILABLE MOISTURE AND LIMITED  
SATURATION/CLOUD COVER IN THE MID AND UPPER TROPOSPHERE WILL  
ACTUALLY STIMULATE DIURNAL HEATING...FAVORING HIGH RAINFALL RATES  
IN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY AND  
FRIDAY. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WEAK SOUTHEASTERLY TRADES ON  
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...EXPECT STRONG DIURNAL BREEZE CONVERGENCE TO  
FOCUS IN INTERIOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST PUERTO RICO  
WHERE AFTERNOON CONVECTION IS EXPECTED. EXPECT DIURNAL MAXIMA IN  
THE 1-2 INCH RANGE...ALTHOUGH ISOLATED MAXIMA NEAR 3 INCHES CANNOT  
BE RULED OUT.  
 
GALVEZ...WPC (USA)  
 

 
 
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