Sept. 12, 2007 — With the Virgin Islands in the peak of hurricane season, Tropical Depression 8 formed Wednesday morning. Forecasters think it will miss the territory, but warned it's far too soon to know for certain.
"It's too early to say whether it will go north, but everything points to it," said meteorologist Shawn Rossi at the National Weather Service.
Some computer models have the storm dissipating before it gets to the region. If it does hold together, it will be reach the area in about a week, Rossi said.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the storm was centered at 13.5 degrees north latitude and 45.5 degrees west longitude, or about 1,065 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
Winds are at 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph. The barometric pressure stands at 1,006 millibars, or 29.7 inches. It's moving to the west-northwest at 11 mph.
Tropical Depression 8 could strengthen into Tropical Storm Ingrid later Wednesday or Thursday.
Residents should prepare, said Steve Parris, acting director at the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
"Have your emergency supplies on hand and ready in case they are needed," he said.
Residents should clear their yards of debris, get their homes ready for a storm and have a plan in place to care for children, elderly people and pets, Parris said. They should also top up their vehicles with fuel, he said.
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