Widespread showers and thunderstorms across much of the central and eastern U.S. will produce areas of excessive rainfall, especially in the southern Mid-Atlantic states. Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected from Montana into portions of the central/southern Plains this weekend. A heatwave will build in the Desert Southwest, in parts of Arizona, southeastern California, and southern Nevada. Read More >
Statistically, 2013 began with a rainfall deficit across the local islands with just 56% of the normal rainfall falling across all of Puerto Rico and USVI. The scenario changed around March and April with the transition to the wet season, however dryness persisted across the southern areas of Puerto Rico. From May through August, a rainfall surplus of about 26 inches was reported at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (TJSJ) in San Juan Puerto Rico with 121% of the normal rainfall falling across all Puerto Rico. In fact, summer 2013 was the second wettest summer on record at TJSJ with a rainfall total of 32.88 inches between June and August. One of the contributors for this rainfall surplus was a strong tropical wave that affected the area on July 18th. Beginning in September and continuing into October, a deficit in rainfall accumulations was notable across the local area. This deficit was associated with a lack of tropical systems for the 2013 hurricane season. A much wetter pattern prevailed during November and December, as troufiness prevailed from time to time across the forecast area.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |
| North Coastal | 72% | 52% | 120% | 71% | 213% | 196% | 184% | 125% | 71% | 80% | 108% | 156% | 117% |
| South Coastal | 22% | 69% | 90% | 122% | 67% | 59% | 87% | 57% | 148% | 67% | 110% | 116% | 82% |
| Northern Slopes | 60% | 46% | 110% | 50% | 165% | 113% | 150% | 102% | 86% | 82% | 89% | 175% | 96% |
| Southern Slopes | 28% | 64% | 104% | 94% | 94% | 111% | 122% | 97% | 107% | 77% | 117% | 180% | 92% |
| Eastern Interior | 78% | 61% | 155% | 97% | 141% | 127% | 135% | 113% | 94% | 87% | 83% | 144% | 106% |
| Western Interior | 45% | 51% | 121% | 113% | 158% | 130% | 129% | 93% | 70% | 77% | 107% | 126% | 99% |
| Saint Croix | 80% | 61% | 141% | 126% | 164% | 223% | 85% | 144% | 93% | 72% | 141% | 304% | 121% |
| Saint Thomas/Saint John | 70% | 37% | 129% | 82% | 154% | 140% | 129% | 102% | 87% | 42% | 115% | 147% | 97% |
Tabular Display of percent of normal rainfall per climate zones for 2013. Data retrieved from 52 COOP stations across Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
The average maximum temperature at TJSJ was approximately 0.5 ºF warmer than the 30-year average from the National Climate Data Center (NCDC). The average temperature was below normal for 29% of the year; while above normal temperatures were observed 47% of the year. The average minimum temperature at TJSJ was 75.6 ºF, which is 0.2 ºF above normal in respect to the 30 year average. The highest maximum temperature reached at TJSJ this year was 96 ºF on Sunday September 29th, breaking the old record of 94 ºF set back in 2001. It has not been this warm since September 18th 1995. Across the U.S. Virgin Islands, the mean annual temperature at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX) in Saint Croix and Cyril King Airport (TIST) in Saint Thomas was 80.7 and 81.2 ºF, which is 0.3 and 0.4 ºF below normal respectively.
In terms of rainfall, 2013 ended as the 4th wettest year in nearly 115 years of record keeping in the San Juan Metro Area. A rainfall total of 85.12 inches was reported at TJSJ, which is 28.77 inches above normal. Not surprisingly, 2013 also ended as the 4th wettest year on record at TIST with a rainfall total of 55.22 inches. Overall, 2013 has produced 239 days of measurable rain at TJSJ, which means 65% of days where 0.01 inch or more accumulated. Meanwhile, 161 and 174 days of measurable rain were reported at TIST and TISX, resulting in 48 of the days where 0.01 inch or more accumulated for both stations.
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