Flash flood advisory issued for San Juan metro area
The National Weather Service warned of possible sudden flooding in four municipalities on Monday afternoon as thunderstorms moved through the region.
PhotoThe short version
- El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported the SNM issued a flash flood advisory for Carolina, Guaynabo, San Juan and Trujillo Alto until 4:15 p.m. Monday
- The SNM said between 1 and 2 inches of rain had already fallen with another 1 to 2 inches possible, according to both outlets
- El Nuevo Día reported the SNM also issued a high surf advisory for San Juan and nearby areas, the northeast, north-central, northwest and Mayagüez until 6 p.m. Tuesday
- El Nuevo Día reported a high rip current risk warning remains in effect for those coastal areas until Wednesday morning
Flash flood advisory
The National Weather Service in San Juan issued a flash flood advisory for Carolina, Guaynabo, San Juan and Trujillo Alto on Monday afternoon. El Nuevo Día reported the advisory was in effect until 4:15 p.m. after its Doppler radar detected intense showers over the area at 1:28 p.m. Primera Hora reported the same municipalities and expiration time.
Both outlets said the SNM reported that 1 to 2 inches of rain had already accumulated with an additional 1 to 2 inches possible. The agencies warned that flooding could occur in streams, urban areas, roads, underpasses and low-lying spots with poor drainage. The SNM advised drivers not to cross flooded roads.
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Coastal hazards
El Nuevo Día reported the SNM also issued a high surf advisory and a high rip current risk warning for coastal areas. The high surf advisory covers San Juan and nearby areas, the northeast, north-central, northwest and Mayagüez and surroundings. It is in effect from 2:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday with breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet expected.
The same outlet reported that the high rip current risk warning for those areas extends until Wednesday morning. The SNM warned that rip currents could be life-threatening, especially on beaches facing north and northwest.
Where the sources differ
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora agree on the flash flood advisory details for the four municipalities, the radar detection time, rainfall amounts observed and expected, and the types of areas that could flood. El Nuevo Día alone reports the high surf advisory and high rip current risk warning, including their durations, wave heights and affected coastal zones. Primera Hora contains no information on coastal hazards.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether any flooding had already occurred by the time of publication, whether any roads were closed, or whether schools or outdoor activities were canceled. They also do not mention any specific response by emergency services or expected rainfall totals beyond the advisory area.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Emiten aviso de inundaciones repentinas para cuatro municipios de la zona metropolitana
- Reporting Emiten aviso de inundaciones repentinas para cuatro municipios de la zona metropolitana
- Reporting Aviso de inundaciones para la zona metropolitana
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora both reported the flash flood advisory and related rainfall details. Information on the high surf advisory, wave heights and high rip current risk warning rests solely on El Nuevo Día.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.