National Weather Service Forecasts Hazardous Conditions For USVI Through Next Week

The National Weather Service has forecast hazardous conditions for the U.S. Virgin Islands beginning today and into next week.

N.W.S. said sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts of 35 mph are expected across the local waters and the exposed sections of the U.S. Virgin Islands today into tonight.

Seas of up to 11 feet with occasional seas of 14 feet expected across outer Atlantic waters and the Anegada passage, N.W.S. said. There is also a high risk of rip currents for all of St. Croix and the northern coasts of St. Thomas.

According to N.W.S., inclement weather conditions are expected through next Thursday. The service said winds and seas of small craft advisory levels will be carried in all local waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands through at least Sunday. Then, seas of 7 feet or more are expected to persist in the outer waters and Anegada passage through Thursday.

Wind gusts up to 35 mph are expected in exposed areas of the U.S. Virgin Islands near showers and in the higher hills on Saturday. A high risk of rip currents will continue around St. Croix and the beaches of northern St. Thomas, the weather service said.

Conditions will taper off over the weekend, but rip currents will remain of concern through Thursday on St. Croix. Breaking waves of 10 to 13 feet on Saturday on the eastern end of St. Croix will diminish below 10 feet late on Sunday, but the high surf may return Wednesday and Thursday.