Sept. 6, 2006 – With Tropical Storm Florence already north of the territory's latitude, it appears that residents are out of the woods on this one.
"We feel comfortable it will go north," National Weather Service meteorologist Ernesto Morales said Wednesday.
He said the forecast puts it 500 miles to the northeast of the Virgin Islands Friday.
"That's the closest it will come," he said.
Morales said that the territory will get some weather from Florence. He said showers should start Thursday, with the peak coming Saturday.
"And you'll see high seas through the weekend," he said.
Meanwhile, residents got a taste of things to come early Wednesday evening when a tropical wave – unrelated to Florence – moved through the area.
Morales said the thunderstorm associated with the wave should continue through the evening. Lightning knocked power out across St. John, St. Thomas' East End and much of the middle of the island at 6:20 p.m.
"It's feeder seven," Glen Rothgeb, Water and Power Authority spokesman, said. He didn't know when the problem would be fixed.
At the 5 p.m. update Wednesday, Florence was centered at 19.0 degrees north latitude and 51.1 degrees west longitude. This puts it 770 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands.
Winds are at 50 mph, with gusts to 65 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend outward 260 miles.
It is moving to the west-northwest at 9 mph.
The barometric pressure stands at 999 millibars or 29.49 inches.
