Tropical wave expected to pass near USVI and Puerto Rico after weekend

The National Weather Service continues to monitor a tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean approaching the Leeward Islands.

The system is forecast to pass south of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Monday or Tuesday, according to the NWS.

The system brings with it the potential for driving rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and choppy seas.

Whether you’re heading to your favorite 📍Key Spot or just relaxing outdoors, here’s what to expect across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:

🔆 Warm / Caluroso – Heat index in the upper 90s to low 100s, especially in lower elevations

🌬️ Breezy / Brisa Fuerte – Winds of 15–20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph

🌊 Choppy Seas / Oleaje Picado – Moderate risk of rip currents and rough marine conditions

John F. McCarthy is a veteran journalist in the Caribbean, writing from the "Decision Space" where survival meets the surreal. His reporting steel was tempered by a lineage of legendary editors and broadcasters, including Ed Wynn Brant (The Bomb), Owen Eschenroder (Ann Arbor News), Lynelle Emanuel (BVI Beacon), and Charles Thanas (WSVI-TV). Alongside longtime colleague Kenneth C. "Casey" Clark, McCarthy has navigated the front lines of the territory’s history—from the 1997 volcanic "snow" to every major hurricane since Hugo. Known for leaning out of doorless helicopters to capture the "money shot," McCarthy now edits the V.I. Free Press, providing the essential link between the island's colonial past and its SpaceX future.