The territory will experience tropical-force winds as the center of Gonzalo passes 38 miles to the northeast of St. Thomas and St. John at around 2 a.m. Tuesday as a weak hurricane, meteorologist Carlos Anselmi at the National Weather Service in San Juan said just after the 11 a.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward 70 miles from Gonzalo’s center, and the storm is expected to continue strengthening.
“The strongest part of the winds is to the north. That’s good news for the islands,” Anselmi said.
Rain began falling intermittently by midmorning across the territory, and Anselmi said that Gonzalo’s rain bands will get more frequent as the day progresses. When the conditions get much worse will depend on how fast Gonzalo moves, Anselmi said. He said the weather may deteriorate to a point where it’s unsafe to go out in the early evening if the storm moves faster, or late evening if it slows down.
“Everybody should have their preparations done,” he said.
The territory remains on a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch, but a hurricane warning was posted for the British Virgin Islands at the 11 a.m. update.
“They are closer to the center,” Anselmi explained.
As of the 11 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Gonzalo had winds of 65 mph, 9 mph shy of the threshold for hurricanes.
The storm is moving west northwest at 10 mph.
Rainfall accumulations are expected to reach four to six inches and a flash flood watch is in effect.
According to Anselmi, the seas will be up to 18 feet.
Swells generated by Gonzalo will reach the Virgin Islands by Monday afternoon. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, and Castrodad urged people to stay out of the water.
Gonzalo was centered at 17.2 degrees north latitude and 61.9 degrees west longitude. This puts it about 220 miles east southeast of St. Thomas.
The barometric pressure stands at 992 millibars.
Ferries between St. Thomas and St. John will stop running at 6 p.m., U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said. He said should conditions worsen faster than expected, they will stop earlier.
As for the barges, Boyson Inc.’s final barge run is set for 2:30 p.m. from St. John and 3:30 p.m. from St. Thomas. Island Vic will make its final barge trip at 4:30 p.m. from St. John and at 5 p.m. from St. Thomas.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority said in a press release that it will maintain services as long as possible and will not intentionally turn off power in the event of a storm. WAPA’s Chief Operating Officer and emergency response coordinator Gregory Rhymer said that the “three strike rule” will apply. If a feeder loses service, control room operators will try three times to safely restore the feeder. If unsuccessful, the feeder will remain without service until the storm passes and systems are evaluated for damage.
V.I. Port Authority Director Carlton Dowe said that flights will continue at both airports throughout the afternoon but an American Airlines flight due into Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas in the evening will not arrive as scheduled. He said since the plane usually overnights at the airport, there will be no plane for American’s morning flight.
Dowe said the cruise ship Allure of the Seas cancelled its scheduled Wednesday visit to St. Thomas.
At the West Indian Co., President Joe Boschulte said Carnival Valor is in port but will depart two hours early, at 3 p.m. For Tuesday, Carnival Liberty will head instead to the Western Caribbean. Carnival Conquest, Norwegian Getaway and Caribbean Princess, due in to St. Thomas on Wednesday, all cancelled.
WAPA’s press release indicated that contracted restoration companies will be placed on standby if weather projections indicate that assistance will be needed for high voltage work and other support services. Local companies will also be on standby to provide support services. Emergency radio and telephone systems have been checked and determined fully operational and WAPA representatives will staff the emergency call centers to take calls from customers experiencing electricity and/or water service interruptions.
To report power or water problems after the storm passes, St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island customers can call 774-3552, press number 4 or 774-1424. On St. Croix, customers can call 773-2250 and press number 7 or 773-0150. Customers should be prepared to give accurate information including clear directions to the home or business with the problem.
Both the Planning and Natural Resources Department and the Coast Guard urged boaters not to remain on their boats during the storm.
Planning announced that boater’s safe havens are open. On St. Thomas, they are Benner Bay, Mandahl Pond and Flamingo Bay. Salt River is the safe haven on St. Croix. No vessels are allowed at Krause Lagoon or its channel because this area is designated a Homeland Security Zone. Vessels may not anchor in or obstruct navigational channel in Benner Bay on St. Thomas or Salt River on St. Croix.
The department’s press release indicated Initial entry into the havens will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Enforcement officers will be available to assist boaters in maintaining an organized entry and site location for vessels or to resolve difficult situations. Boaters will return to regular moorings once a new bulletin is issued.
Hurricane anchors can remain for the entire hurricane season. Vessels leaving anchors in the safe haven will use one mooring ball attached to hurricane anchor line marked with the vessel’s registration number. During additional storms, vessels can return to initial location marked by a mooring ball displaying the registration number. After the hurricane season is deemed over, all hurricane anchors and gear must be removed.
On St. John, V.I. National Park opened up Hurricane Hole to boaters but advance registration was necessary. The park’s deputy superintendent, Jayne Schaeffer, said the visitor center was still open but staff was poised to close it at any moment.
Planning also advised contractors, developers and home builders to immediately maintain and implement additional erosion and sediment control practices at all areas where property is cleared, graded, filled, or otherwise disturbed. Additionally, Planning urged construction materials and equipment be removed from sites or be properly secured. This includes all items likely to become airborne objects that can cause damage to property or adjacent parcels.
Acting Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol also reminded residents with wind turbines installed on their property to lower their towers before the impending storm and ensure that the perimeter designated as the setback from the property line is cleared of any structures or buildings that could be damaged with the potential of becoming airborne debris.
The Coast Guard’s press release indicated that the ports in the Virgin Islands are open to outbound vessel traffic only. Commercial inbound vessels are restricted from entering the port. Vessels greater than 500 gross tons in port are to make preparations to get underway and exit the port at this time, while all other vessels authorized to remain in port are to take appropriate precautionary measures to secure their vessels. Facilities should stop cargo handling operations.
