Danny Likely To Peak At Cat 3, VI Airports To Remain Open, U.S. Coast Guard Set Port Condition WHISKEY

Hurricane Danny today reached what is expected to be its peak intensity — Category 3 on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale — with top winds of 115 miles per hour, according to a press release VITEMA issued this evening.

At 5 p.m. the center of the hurricane was located near Latitude 14.5 degrees north, longitude 49.1 degrees west or about 1,066 miles to the east-southeast of St. Croix.  The hurricane’s present movement is to the west-northwest at 10 miles per hour. This motion is expected to continue through tonight and a turn towards the west is expected tomorrow or Saturday night.

Danny is now forecast to move into an area of unfavorable upper level winds and weakening is forecast during the next two days.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Data from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Danny remains a very small hurricane with hurricane force winds (winds in excess of 74 miles per hour) extending outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 60 miles from the center.

On it current track and based on forecast projections, Danny is expected make its closest point of approach to the Virgin Islands on late Monday into early Tuesday morning when the center of the hurricane will pass over or very near north of St. Croix. At that time, Danny is expected to a tropical storm with top winds of 50 to 55 miles per hour.

NOAA and Air Force Reserve Unit reconnaissance aircraft will investigate Danny again Saturday afternoon. 

The next advisory will be issued at 11 p.m. tonight.

US Coast Guard Sets Port Condition WHISKEY

At 4 p.m. today, the US Coast Guard Captain of the Port R. W. Warren set Port Readiness Condition at WHISKEY for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico seaports. At Port Condition WHISKEY ocean-going vessels and barges 500 gross tons and above must make plans to depart no later than the setting of Port Condition YANKEE — closure of the port to all vessel traffic —unless authorized by the Captain of the Port. Port Condition YANKEE may be set as early as Sunday depending on Danny’s trajectory and strength.

All Airports Remain Open

VI Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe reminds the general public that all airports in the territory are open.  Travelers are encouraged to call their airlines or the ferry/barge companies directly for scheduling information. 

Official closure and re-opening of the territory’s airports will be announced by the VI Port Authority.