Why has April been so rainy? The National Weather Service explains

If you were caught in a flash flood or a heavy downpour early in the week, don't put away your umbrella yet.

In an interview with Platea, meteorologist Manuel Ramos, of the Servicio Nacional de Meteorología en San Juan (SNM), warned that the weather this week will bring variable rainfall and saturated soils until dry air moves in over the weekend.

The trough that affected the archipelago last Monday and Tuesday will finish pulling away today, Wednesday, but the moisture it left behind will intensify any showers that fall across the island, he added.

"Here on the island, what happens is known as island convection. In this process, wind direction, the heat that would be felt, and local effects, such as the sea breeze, produce showers. These are not necessarily showers that arrive from the Atlantic and make landfall in Puerto Rico, which is partly what has been happening these past few days, but also showers that form in the interior of the island and move with the wind," the scientist explained.

— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) April 23, 2024

Why has it been so wet lately?

April typically serves as a prelude to Puerto Rico's rainy season, which runs from May through November and is tied to hurricane season, which begins in June.

With the retreat of the El Niño atmospheric phenomenon in 2023, which tends to warm the Pacific Ocean and, as a result, suppress rainfall formation over the Atlantic, this hurricane season is forecast to be more intense for the Caribbean.

"With climate change, we would see more extreme events, both on the side of rain and flooding and the opposite, longer droughts and higher temperatures. At least for this event, a bit more study would be needed to know with certainty what exact role climate change played, but in general it would contribute to more extreme events in the area and in different parts of the world," Ramos said.

Start preparing now for what's ahead

Forecasts indicate that the intensity and frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean will grow as the effects of climate change worsen.

Although the most intense storms this season are not expected until the summer months, it is never too early to invest in your safety and that of your family.