Aug. 25, 2004 After more than a week with no tropical weather worries, the Virgin Islands now has Tropical Depression 6 on its radar.
While computer models have it clearing the territory to the northeast, meteorologist Todd Kimberlain at the National Weather Service in San Juan said it is way too soon to think we're off the hook.
"I still think there's a fair amount of uncertainty. Anytime you see a tropical cyclone develop to the south and east of us, you should monitor it," he said.
He said forecasters expect Tropical Depression 6 to become Tropical Storm Frances later today.
After moving westward across the Atlantic as a low pressure area for several days, the storm became a tropical depression late Tuesday.
At 5 a.m. Wednesday, Tropical Depression 6 is centered at 11.4 North and 37.6 West. It is moving west at 17 mph with winds of 35 mph. This puts it about 1,615 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The pressure stands at 1008 millibars or 29.76 inches.
Forecasters expect the storm to slow down.
Kimberlain said it will be six or seven days before the storm could become a threat to the Virgin Islands.
"I know those long westerly tracks are a source of anxiety," he said.
Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30, with the peak coming in mid-September.
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