July isn’t over yet, but it’s already on track to make history at the San Juan airport weather station: it could become the driest July since records began there in 1898.

As of Tuesday, the rain gauge at the station had recorded only 0.53 inches of rainfall, according to meteorologist Yidiana Zayas of the National Weather Service (NWS).

Zayas clarified that this figure reflects precipitation measured at the San Juan airport and does not represent the total rainfall received across Puerto Rico during July.

With three days left in the month, the total remains well below the 1.10 inches recorded in July 1929, which currently holds the record as the driest July on record at that station.

But the lack of rainfall isn’t the only remarkable aspect of this month. According to NWS data, July 2026 is also on pace to become the second-hottest July in the history of the San Juan weather station.

The average temperature so far has been 85.1°F, second only to July 2024, when the monthly average reached 85.7°F.

In fact, the heat intensified again on Tuesday, when the thermometer at the San Juan station reached a high of 93°F, breaking the previous record of 92°F set in 1981 for July 28.

With that temperature, the San Juan station also logged seven consecutive days—from July 22 through July 28—with highs at or above 90°F.

However, that wasn’t the only hot streak this month. Between July 9 and July 20, the station recorded 12 straight days with temperatures reaching at least 90°F, a streak that ended on July 21.

Conditions on Wednesday are expected to be very similar to Tuesday’s: intense heat, a few passing showers, and overall limited rainfall, Zayas said.

Light showers are possible during the morning, while lingering moisture from a tropical wave will remain over the region through the afternoon.

That moisture, combined with daytime heating, could trigger showers mainly over western, central interior, and northwestern Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, a Heat Advisory will be in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Zayas said the NWS will continue monitoring heat index values after Tuesday’s elevated readings to determine whether a Heat Warning will be necessary.

At the same time, Saharan dust will remain present in low to moderate concentrations through at least Friday.

The next tropical wave could approach Puerto Rico on Sunday, although the meteorologist noted that it’s still too early to determine how it will develop and what conditions it will bring as it nears the region.

As for marine conditions, there is a moderate risk of rip currents along the north and east-facing beaches. By Thursday, that risk could expand to most of the island’s coastline.

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This content was translated from Spanish to English using artificial intelligence and was reviewed by an editor before being published.