Severe Thunderstorm Warning for....Puerto Rico?

[Danny Neal]

Normally I know the posting of complete products is frowned upon by ST rules and guidelines....but this is definitely a first. I have never seen this before. Being Puerto Rican and checking Puerto Rican weather daily to see how my family is doing, I have never seen a severe thunderstorm, let alone tornado, warning issued for the Island. Has anyone EVER seen this before?

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
CIALES MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
COAMO MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
JUANA DIAZ MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JUANA DIAZ...
OROCOVIS MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
PONCE MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
SANTA ISABEL MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...
VILLALBA MUNICIPALITY IN PUERTO RICO...

* UNTIL 145 PM AST

* AT 102 PM AST...A TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
ASSOCIATED WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER THE COASTAL WATERS JUST
SOUTH OF PONCE AND JUANA DIAZ. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING TORNADOES AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
VILLALBA...LUIS LLORENS TORRES...LOS LLANOS...LAS OLLAS...
GUAYABAL...COTO LAUREL...AGUILITA AND CAPITANEJO

IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY
IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

 

[Jeff Richardson]

Yes, I have seen Severe Thunderstorm warnings and Flash Flood warnings from the San Juan office in the past. The specifics on the date and time of year escape me, but they do issue products like any other NWS office. I have a daily habit of checking watches/warnings issued over the past 24 hours and have noticed that San Juan issues very few advisories and warnings compared to many other offices.

 

[rdale]

If they see a funnel cloud, and think it might produce a tornado over the city, shouldn't a Tornado Warning be the case here?

 

[Danny Neal]

If they see a funnel cloud, and think it might produce a tornado over the city, shouldn't a Tornado Warning be the case here?

You know I was thinking the exact same thing.......

When I went out there a few years ago to visit my family, I asked about storms and experienced first hand what happens. Basically it is your everyday tropical environment, heavy rain, no lightning, no thunder, and then 15 minutes later it's back to being warm and humid. Granted I DID go in November. I asked my cousin about tornadoes in Puerto Rico and I got the *wow dude you have something growing out of the side of your head* look.

On a side note, my uncle lost everything he had in Hugo so at the least my immediate family takes tropical weather seriously.