The short version
- El Nuevo Día reports that a trough will bring more frequent showers Saturday night into Sunday mainly in eastern Puerto Rico while Saturday daytime remains mostly tranquil with typical afternoon rain in the west and northwest
- El Vocero reports the SNM warned of scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon in the interior and west with a 60 percent chance of rain and high of 88F
- El Nuevo Día reports moderate rip current risk on north west and east coasts with waves up to four feet while El Vocero reports moderate risk for northern Puerto Rico Culebra and Virgin Islands with waves of three to five feet
- Both outlets report that beachgoers and small boat operators should exercise caution and the public should monitor updates especially for outdoor Halloween plans
Variable conditions expected
People planning outdoor Halloween activities on Saturday in Puerto Rico should monitor the forecast as showers could become more frequent during the night mainly in the east of the island El Nuevo Día reported. Although the weekend will begin with fairly tranquil conditions a trough nearby could favor an increase in showers between Saturday night and Sunday according to the same report.
Meteorologist Mariangelis Marrero of the National Weather Service explained that the influx of dry air will also influence the pattern resulting in a variable weekend she told El Nuevo Día. For Saturday mostly tranquil conditions are expected in the early hours followed by typical afternoon rain activity in the west and northwest. However those going out at night for trick-or-treating or other celebrations could encounter more frequent periods of rain toward the east while Sunday is expected to remain somewhat more humid the meteorologist said.
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Friday outlook and marine conditions
El Vocero reported that the National Weather Service in San Juan warned of another round of showers for Friday afternoon in sectors of the interior and west where rain could cause urban and small stream flooding. The activity will concentrate mainly during the afternoon hours so residents in flood-prone zones should stay alert and take precautions according to the agency.
The SNM also forecast another hot day on the island with heat indices remaining high and urged the public to stay hydrated and limit prolonged sun exposure especially during peak heat hours El Vocero reported. On the marine side the agency informed of moderate rip current risk for beaches in northern Puerto Rico Culebra and the Virgin Islands with breaking waves between three and five feet. El Nuevo Día separately reported moderate risk on the north west and east coasts with waves reaching four feet at times and seas between four and five feet offshore.
Where the sources differ
The sources agree that showers will increase over the Halloween weekend particularly on Saturday night into Sunday and that moderate rip current risk exists for coastal areas with a call for caution. El Nuevo Día attributes the forecast details to meteorologist Mariangelis Marrero of the SNM and specifies increased night rain mainly in the east with risk on north west and east coasts. El Vocero focuses on Friday afternoon rain risk in the interior and west with a 60 percent chance of rain high of 88F and specifies moderate risk for northern Puerto Rico Culebra and the Virgin Islands. Wave heights are described slightly differently between the two reports.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not provide specific rainfall accumulation amounts expected over the weekend nor do they detail the exact timing or intensity of the more frequent showers on Saturday night. They also do not mention any particular impacts on Halloween events beyond advising to monitor updates or address whether any flooding or marine advisories have already been issued.
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.
- Reporting ¿Planes para Halloween? Conoce cómo va a estar el tiempo este fin de semana
- Reporting ¿Cómo estará el tiempo durante el fin de semana de Halloween?
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero both drew from the National Weather Service in San Juan with El Nuevo Día quoting meteorologist Mariangelis Marrero directly for the weekend outlook. Details on Friday conditions and specific flood risks rest solely on El Vocero while the east coast rain emphasis and west coast marine risk come only from 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.
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