Breaking

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in its 5:00 a.m. update that a tropical storm warning remains in effect for “the next several hours” across the territory and Leeward Islands, however conditions are expected to improve “later today.”

According to NOAA, tropical storm conditions will also spread across portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti today, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas later today and tonight, and the central Bahamas on Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the northwestern Bahamas by Saturday night, according to the latest report.

Rainfall projections remained the same in the latest forecast, with NOAA revealing that Erika is still expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible across portions of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern and central Bahamas through Saturday. These rains could cause life- threatening flash floods and mud slides, it said.

US Geological Survey rain-gauges indicate that some areas received 3 to 4.5 inches of rain over the eastern portions of PR, while St. Croix USVI received close to 2 inches of rain.

Based on latest data/forecast models:

Rough seas and hazardous marine conditions continue today. As of 10 p.m. AST buoy 41052 south of St. John is currently at around 10 feet and buoy 41051 south of St. Thomas is also currently at around 10 feet. Seas at buoy 42085 south of Ponce reached over 9 feet at 4 a.m. Seas will gradually improve today.

The center of Erika was located near latitude 17.7 North, longitude 67.7 West at of 5:00 this morning. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move over the Dominican Republic today, move near the Turks and Caicos Islands tonight, and move near the central and northwestern Bahamas Saturday and Saturday night, NOAA reports.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast today as Erika moves over land, followed by little change in strength through Saturday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km) to the north and east of the center. A Weatherflow station in Las Mareas, Puerto Rico, recently reported a wind of 52, according to the 5:00 a.m. advisory.

Tropical storm warning remains in effect for the following:

Puerto Rico
Vieques
Culebra
U.S. Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Southeastern Bahamas
Turks and Caicos Islands
Central Bahamas
St. Martin
St. Barthelemy

Tags: tropical storm erika, us virgin islands

Ernice Gilbert
I wear many hats, I suppose, but the one which fits me best would be journalism, second to that would be radio personality, thirdly singer/songwriter and down the line. I've been the Editor-In-Chief at my videogames website, Gamesthirst, for over 5 years, writing over 7,000 articles and more than 2 million words. I'm also very passionate about where I live, the United States Virgin Islands, and I'm intent on making it a better place by being resourceful and keeping our leaders honest. VI Consortium was birthed out of said desire, hopefully my efforts bear fruit. Reach me at [email protected].