TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands What's the deal with the weather?

Looking at the weather forecast, seeing a lot of clouda and rain. Is this "normal" for this kind of year.

Arrive in less than a week and hoping that it will be more of the typical scattered showers.

Can't wait DIF is almost too much to bare!

Watching the CGB and SDB web cams --- it is sure been cloudy and gloomy there the last several days. But I'll still take that over setting at a desk all day.

Right now the region is dominated by an area of very stable air resulting in a fairly continuous layer of mid and high level clouds and scattered light rain. By mid week we should see an upper level trough slide down from PR and stir things up a little making for more typical sunshine/shower cycle.

I was wondering the same thing! We always travel in May and never had any weather realated issues, but it doesn't look like I can make that statement anymore. We leave this Saturday

When I read the heading I thought you were talking about Colorado, crazy weather

We are returning from a 10 day trip. Very strange weather. It did turn out to be much better than I would expected based on the forecasts so you should be optimistic.

I should also mention that even with the suspect weather we saw quite a few mega yachts on the trip which was a little surprising for this time of year. We were docked next to a 150 foot yacht last night at Peter Island and next to both a 140 foot yacht and a 220 foot yacht the night before at Leverick. Very nice crews at Leverick. Not so much at Peter. It appeared to be the last night of the charter for the boat at Peter since they followed us over to the USVI so maybe it was a rough trip.

If you go back in history the season is traditionally Mid December to Mid April with May arguably the wettest month with more inches of rain coupled with more days of rain. Each year the weather will be little different so you always expect the edges of the better weather season to change some. Sometime after April 1 each year the sea across the Atlantic will start to warm up and weather will become less predictable from a very humid baking flat calm to tropical storm weather. April and the Fall are the periods historically with rain on the most days during the periods when the weather is switching over.

Tell me about it!! We live in Colorado Springs and have a flight to STT to catch tomorrow night! My neighborhood is expected to get a foot of snow! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> I hope we get some sun in BVI next week!

The good news is next week will show a warming trend with some nights even staying in the 80's. There will be periods of rain, heavy rain, cloud cover, and humidity. There will be breeze swinging from the south to the east. Any advance agendas should be focused on covered places with great verandas. Sunbathing will be hit and miss at best. The BVI should be tropical rain lovers paradise for the next 10 days at least. It will be hot, humid, and unstable... Here is the last line of the NOAA Marine Extended Forecast... "UNSETTLED WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGIONAL WATERS THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK."

Here is one for the experts... Where are the best covered verandas to afternoon chill in the BVI?

We waited out our last shower at Foxy's in Great Harbor - not a bad choice

We have been here for 12 days now, and the weather has been a bit odd. The local I spoke with today, said it reminded him of late summer weather.

Even so, we have seen some sun every day. And the snorkeling has been awesome.

Snow Dog, was nice to meet you guys. We thought the weather was a bit unusual too. Hope the boat survey went well.
Limin' Time

The sea temperatures are now above 80 degrees(81.3 Today South of St.John). Once the sea temperatures reach 80 degrees the possibilities of lows lining up and running through the BVI from the east is likely. The weather will remain warm, humid, and unstable with unsettled weather for the foreseeable future. This week the lows will remain well north and south of the BVI but will still impact the wind and weather conditions.

Here is a midweek image forecasting wind from the south pulled by the low in the mid Atlantic.








AMZ700-302000-
321 AM AST SAT APR 30 2016

.SYNOPSIS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS...


LOW PRESSURE IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC IS CONNECTING WITH THE LOW PRESSURE ACROSS COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NORTHEAST WILL RE- BUILD INTO THE ATLANTIC NORTHEAST OF PUERTO RICO BY MID-WEEK NEXT WEEK TO MAINTAIN A SOUTHEASTERLY WIND FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGIONAL WATERS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 5 DAYS

Well thankfully looking at the latest wind guru forecast it looks like the weather will be better than forecasted 3 days ago. Hope it keeps on improving. I don't mind scattered showers and clouds the typical tropical weather but want to avoid the overcast days and more constant rain.

See you in Da ilons mon! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

I'm here now and it hasn't stopped raining all day&#128577;

This was just posted on Facebook:


Special Tropical Update, 04.30.2016, 1:30 pm (AST):

NWS has issued a Flash Flood Warning for STX, STT, STJ, WI, PR!

Also issued a hazardous Marine Warning for the Coastal Waters of USVI, BVI & PR.

Lastly, a Hazardous Weather Statement was issued for USVI, PR & BVI. Torrential T-Storms, dangerous lightning, Gale force wind gusts up to 45 mph have been measured. Some Urban Streets have flooded and with continued rain storms expect more floodings. Mudslides have been reported on both STT & STX. Also, a water spout was spotted off STX.

This storm has some dangerous elements to it; so please stay inside if you can. If you are out driving, take heed of water in the roads. When in doubt turn around.

As this TS is slow moving across our area, we will monitor it for you. Be safe!

Yesterday afternoon, I opted to work rather than go into town to do my shopping. It was raining and miserable and the wind was howling up by my place. I just didn't feel like sluicing down our hill (which becomes a bit of a river when it rains) or dodging falling rocks and potholes on the road into town.

With no warm up shots of any kind ... a massive and incredibly loud thunderclap came out of nowhere! It was so close and so loud that it actually CRACKED one of my bedroom windows! It didn't shatter, but it cracked the pane.

I have never heard of such a thing happening before. I went on the internet and although not common, percussion from thunder can actually break windows.

Who would have thunk it? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

If the lightning strike is close enough the concussion from the thunder clasp can actually injure a person

Solid week of heavy clouds or rain. We have had maybe two total hours of patchy sun. Depression setting in.

It looks like the sun may peak out sometime on Monday into Tuesday. Disappear again and come back Thursday for a bit. Unsettled unstable weather through next weekend at least.

The weather for the last weeks are really putting a strain on the old adage...

"a bad day in the islands is better than a good day back home"

Hope this clears out in two weeks, it looks awful today.

Rained a bit this morning.... It hasn't been too bad today, calling for rain tonight.

Finally! Blue skies, sunshine and regular tradewind activity. All is well with the world again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Forecast I'm getting from Accuweather isnt too good, but I hope they are wrong. Will be there at the end of the week and so needing some sunshine after a very difficult year. Lovely to see the BVI sun on webcams this morning. Please keep it there a bit longer! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Wheels up in less than 24 hours! must admit I have become a accuweather and windguru junkie. Checking every hour to see if the weather forecast has changed. "Is it getting better? is it getting worse? what's the weather doing now? Is .9m waves from the north east considered a northern swell and if so will that affect our anchorage in Coopers on Thursday? what about cane garden bay on Monday!? why is the wind only 5-9 knots on sunday? that is the day we are supposed to sail to cane garden bay?!!!"

STOP! relax, breath and enjoy. Drinks will soon be at hand don't stress about things you can't control....sorry got to go and check wind guru again... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I know that feeling UncleLuff - wheels up on Sunday and checking the weather has become an hourly obsession! But you're correct - I need to let it go and adapt to whatever ... have a great trip!

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
203 PM AST TUE MAY 3 2016

.SYNOPSIS...UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LOCATED OVER PUERTO RICO IS ENHANCING SOMEWHAT THE INSTABILITY OVER PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TODAY. THE TROUGH ALOFT WILL WEAKEN AS LIFTS NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY. MID-UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE OVER THE REGION BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...LIMITING THE COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC WILL MAINTAIN A GENERALLY MOIST SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

OPERATIONAL MODELS NOW SUGGEST THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE GRADUALLY THROUGH THURSDAY. AS UPPER TROUGH WEAKENS AND SOME DRY AIR WILL FILTER IN AT MID LEVELS. THE CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY WILL LIKELY DECREASE OVER THE LOCAL AREA.

FROM FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...A POLAR TROUGH WILL DOMINATE THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. AT THIS TIME...LOOKS LIKE THE ORGANIZED CONVECTION WILL REMAIN WEST AND NORTH OF THE LOCAL AREA.

.MARINE...WINDS OF 5 TO 15 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 3 TO 5 FEET
RESPECTIVELY. NO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE ANTICIPATED OVER THE NEXT 5-7 DAYS.

Sunday and Monday look like veranda sitting time again...



I do not see any meaningful BVI swell from any direction for the next 7 days.

Back to beautiful, sunny Texas!!!

Worst weather week I've ever had down there (Apr 26-May 3), the sun *did* finally show on our departure day, as if to say "ninny, ninny, boo boo". At least thankful that we didn't have to schlep luggage on the ferry and through STT in a rain storm. I've officially been cured of spring shoulder season. I may also slap the next person that says, "Oh, it's always just a little passing tropical shower for a few minutes"

Trip report - lots of drinking <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />, bad case of sand fleas from insisting we go to the beach in the rain anyway, stressed friendships caused by severe case of cabin fever <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Argue.gif" alt="" />, more drinking...

Sending sunny vibes to you guys there this week. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />

The weather you had can occur almost any season. I had a week of constant rain in both Dec and Feb. in the end it evens out and I have had many fantastic summer weeks.
G

We had a November trip where we did not see any sun for 8 days. only stopped raining for a few hours each day, but still cloudy.

As my Dutch relatives say " If we waited till the rain stopped, we would never get anything done"

You can always snorkel or dive in the rain.

Has the weather outlook improved? We're headed down on Friday with several new people and hoping for a little sunshine! Seems like it might be back to normal, but I'm no tropical weather expert.

Been pretty good so far this week - a few rain showers at night, but partial cloud/sun by day. Even Monday, which looked like a rain-out on the forecast, was a good day. Rain is forecast to come back Friday and over the weekend, but we'll see if that happens. Winds are good ...