Weather Forecast for Vieques

* WHAT...East winds up to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph expected, particularly across the USVI and eastern PR. * WHERE...Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. * WHEN...From 8 AM this morning to 6 PM AST this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution when driving. Secure loose objects.

* WHAT...Life-threatening rip currents. * WHERE...Along the exposed beaches in northern, eastern and southern Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, and the US Virgin Islands. * WHEN...Through Wednesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water, where it becomes difficult to return to safety.

There is a high risk of rip currents. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs. If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

* WHAT...East winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph or higher. * WHERE...Portions of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. * WHEN...Until 6 PM AST this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

* WHAT...Life-threatening rip currents. * WHERE...Along the exposed beaches in northern, eastern and southern Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, and the US Virgin Islands. * WHEN...Through Wednesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water, where it becomes difficult to return to safety.

There is a high risk of rip currents. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs. If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.