Hurricane Lenny's path moved slightly to the right of predictions overnight, bringing the forecast center of the storm very close to St. Croix today, according to the 5 a.m. report from the National Weather Center.
In St. Thomas, steady rain overnight had increased to downpours punctuated by increasing wind gusts, thunder and lightning.
An observer on St. Croix reported 42 mph winds with gusts to 79 mph. The airport on St. Croix reported 40 mph winds with gusts to 54 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for Puerto Rico and the U. S. and British Virgin Islands.
At 5 a.m. Wednesday the center of Hurricane Lenny was located near latitude 16.7 north, longitude 66.0 west, or about 120 miles south of San Juan and about 105 miles southwest of St. Croix.
Lenny is moving toward the east-northeast near 14 mph. A gradual turn to the northeast is expected today.
Maximum sustained winds increased overnight to 125 mph with higher gusts. Lenny is a dangerous Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale. Stronger winds could be experienced in mountainous areas and over unprotected south and west-facing harbors.
Virgin Islands residents should expect conditions to worsen during the day.
A hurricane warning is also in effect for Dutch St. Maarten, French St. Martin, St. Barthelemey, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda.
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