July 5, 2005 –– Tropical Storm Dennis developed Tuesday morning from Tropical Depression No. 4. It should pass about 350 miles south of St. Croix around 8 p.m., National Weather Service meteorologist Felix Garcia said from the San Juan office at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
"We'll get some bands," he said, referring to the rain and wind associated with the storm.
Garcia could not say how strong the winds might be, but he said seas could reach six to eight feet on south coasts.
He said Tuesday morning's showers were localized weather combined with Tropical Storm Dennis' outermost bands.
As of the 11 a.m. update, Tropical Storm Dennis was centered is at 13.3 degrees north latitude and 66.6 degrees west longitude.
The storm has winds of 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend outward 60 miles.
It is moving to the west-northwest at 18 mph
The barometric pressure stands at 1006 millibars or 29.7 inches.
Tropical Storm Dennis is on a path for Hispaniola, where forecasters think it will hit as a Category 1 hurricane Friday. Tropical storm watches have been posted in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The storm formed late Monday as a tropical depression.
Additionally, Tropical Storm Cindy, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico, is on a path for the Gulf Coast states and poses no threat to the Virgin Islands.
Harold Baker, who heads the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said that residents should continue watching the weather to make sure Tropical Storm Dennis doesn't change course.
While hurricane season, which began June 1, doesn't reach its peak until mid-September, storms can develop earlier in the season.
On July 5, 1996, Hurricane Bertha formed. It passed over the Virgin Islands on July 8 with winds of 85 mph.
Hurricane season ends Nov. 30.
