Updated 9:45 a.m. Thursday
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms early Thursday triggered flash flooding across parts of the U.S. Virgin Islands, prompting the closure of schools and government offices due to flooding and power outages.
“A departing tropical wave, combined with an upper-level trough of low pressure, will continue to enhance showers and thunderstorms throughout the day,” the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said.
The agency warned of an elevated risk of flooding across Puerto Rico, with hazards including rapid river rises, landslides and frequent lightning.
Several flood alerts remain in effect, including a Flash Flood Warning for St. Croix until 10 a.m. The NWS said one to three inches of rain had already fallen there, with an additional one to two inches possible.
As of 8 a.m., flooding and ponding of water was reported in areas of Christiansted and elsewhere on St. Croix. Government House said all schools and government offices across the territory were closed Thursday for non-essential workers “by order of Governor Bryan, due to the WAPA power outages and flash flooding.”
“By Order of Governor Bryan, due to the WAPA power outages and flash flooding, effective 8:00 a.m., Government Offices and Schools are closed Territory Wide for all non-essential employees,” according to an update from Government House.
Local National Weather Service Update
As was reported in a Source article on Monday, the NWS had anticipated strong storms to affect the region this week, and a wet weather pattern is forecast to continue.
“A departing tropical wave and a trough of low pressure to the north will keep the atmosphere very moist and unstable on Thursday,” the NWS said. “The wet pattern will persist, with only a brief break Friday night before another surge of tropical moisture arrives over the weekend.”
“With the upper trough still in place and winds weakening below 10 mph, showers and thunderstorms will be slow-moving, heightening the risk of flooding, localized flash flooding, and landslides in saturated areas,” the NWS warned.
Monitoring the Weather
It is crucial to remember that the forecast can change very quickly. USVI residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to remain prepared. Weather information is available from the NWS, the NHC, and NOAA.
Additionally, the local weather forecast for the U.S. Virgin Islands is regularly updated on the Source Weather Pageand VI Source YouTube Channel. A weekly Tropical Outlook article from the Source is also published throughout hurricane season to provide in-depth updates. Residents and visitors can find additional weather alerts and preparedness information from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
8:45 a.m. Thursday
All schools and government offices are closed territory-wide Thursday for all non-essential employees amid heavy rains, the risk of flash flooding and a district-wide power outage on St. Thomas and St. John, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced just after 8:30 a.m.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority reported just after 8 a.m. that plant personnel were working to restore power after a loss of generation at the Randolph Harley Power Plant. The estimated restoration time was one hour, it said. Several feeders on St. Croix were also experiencing interruptions. The blackouts follow numerous outages Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, reported Thursday morning that a tropical wave will continue to move across and away from the local area, continuing an increased chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall will be heavy at times, leading to the chance of flooding and landslides, it said.
