The NHC is monitoring Invest 95L in the central Atlantic. The system has a medium chance of development within 48 hours and a high chance over the next seven days. (Photo courtesy of NHC)
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Invest 95L, a disturbance in the central Atlantic. The system has a medium chance of development within 48 hours and a high chance over the next seven days. Forecasters say a tropical depression could form this week as the system moves generally toward the Caribbean.
Tropical Wave Expected to Move Across Atlantic
“A broad area of low pressure associated with a low-latitude tropical wave continues to produce a large area of disorganized cloudiness and showers several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands,” according to an update on Sunday evening from the NHC.
“Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form by midweek as it moves quickly across the central tropical Atlantic, approaching the Leeward Islands by the latter part of this week. Interests there should monitor the progress of Invest 95L,” the NHC explained
An “invest” is an area under investigation by the National Hurricane Center for possible development. If this system intensifies into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, it would be named “Jerry,” becoming the tenth named cyclone of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
Where Will Invest 95L Travel?
Several widely used computer forecast models suggest that if Invest 95L organizes, it could ultimately strengthen into a tropical storm or a hurricane.
Infrared satellite imagery obtained at 7:20 p.m. AST on Sunday. Invest 95L is seen moving across the Main Development Region between West Africa and the Caribbean. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
However, the exact track of the tropical wave remains uncertain, and any potential impacts would likely occur during the second half of the week. Atmospheric conditions could steer the system away from the Leeward Islands, or it may continue westward and move across portions of the islands.
In an update Sunday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, noted that an increase in moisture is expected by the end of the week as Invest 95L moves closer to the region. However, the NWS said forecast models remain inconsistent regarding the tropical wave’s track and potential impacts on the local islands.
While there is no immediate cyclone threat to the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, residents and visitors are urged to remain prepared and monitor official updates closely.
“At this time, there is high uncertainty in terms of the trajectory and intensity of this tropical wave,” the NWS said. “Residents and visitors are urged to continue monitoring the progress of this system as it moves over the Atlantic Ocean.”
Local Weather Information and Staying Informed
Finally, the NWS in San Juan reminded individuals on Sunday about weather-related threats that will continue to affect the USVI and Puerto Rico over the coming days, including the chance of rainfall and thunderstorms associated with a separate tropical wave moving through the Caribbean, and very warm temperatures, with the potential for heat alerts.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30, and residents and visitors across the USVI are encouraged to remain vigilant. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
Additionally, marine conditions will remain hazardous for the next few days due to a powerful swell affecting the local islands. Multiple marine alerts remain in effect for areas of Puerto Rico and the USVI until at least Tuesday.
It is crucial to remember that the forecast can change very quickly. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30, and USVI residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to remain prepared. Weather information is available from the NWS, the NHC, and NOAA.
The local weather forecast for the U.S. Virgin Islands is regularly updated on the Source Weather Page and 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.
St. John residents march in Cruz Bay during the No Kings Rally in June 2025. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
Community members are invited to attend a Free Speech Rally in Defense of Democracy taking place on October 18 on St. Thomas and St. John. The rallies will coincide with more than 2,200 other events taking place across the nation and abroad.
On St. Thomas, participants will meet at 10 a.m. on Veterans Drive across from Windward Passage and walk east along the Waterfront to “the People’s Promenade” across from the courthouse. Rally-goers will be joined there for a musical performance by the St. Thomas All Stars Steel Band.
St. Thomas residents assemble for a No Kings rally in June. (Photo by Barbara Young)
On St. John, community members are invited to assemble in Frank Powell Sr. Park across from the ferry dock from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Shikima Jones-Sprauve, St. John administrator, will kick off the event by singing the U.S. and USVI anthems, and there will be music, speakers, and a table for voter registration.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” said Erin Lieb, one of the organizers of the St. John event. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
Participants at both events are invited to make signs expressing their views on issues concerning free speech and threats to democracy. Jane Higgins, the organizer of the St. Thomas event, said, “No signs are required; just show up!” But for those carrying signs, she requested, “Please, no rudeness.”
Rally goers on St. John express themselves with signs, shirts and flags. (Photo by William Stelzer)
Anyone on St. John who is interested in making signs is invited to a gathering at the Great Room at Gifft Hill School’s lower campus on Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Some materials will be provided; participants are welcome to bring their own.
(Editors’ note: The St. John Social Action Team rents space for its meetings at the Gifft Hill School, but the school is not affiliated with the event, nor does it endorse it.)
“Making a sign makes you think about what you stand for; it helps you focus your thoughts into simple ideas,” said Lieb.
The rallies in the Virgin Islands are part of a national mobilization. “We’re a movement that knows that courage is contagious,” said Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the national organization Indivisible, which is coordinating the events. “We exercise our rights in the open because when we do that, others will do that, too.”
Jane Higgins (left, carrying the flag) and Betsy Sheehan march at the No Kings rally on STT in June. (Photo by Barbara Young)
For further information on the St. Thomas rally, email jhigginswear@gmail.com. For information on the St. John rally, please go to the St. John Social Action Team on Facebook.
From left, women’s basketball standouts Kashay Bass, Aspyn Roberson, Khaelii Robertson-Mack, and Ashlynn Lemos were all smiles ahead of the towel toss that wrapped up a night of excitement at UVI’s Bucs’ Madness. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
The Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center erupted with energy Friday night as the University of the Virgin Islands kicked off its basketball season with Buccaneer Basketball Madness, an event that loaded the bleachers on all sides with athletes, cheerleaders, and fans.
The Friday spectacle delivered everything promised and more: gravity-defying dunks, three-point shootouts, spirited performances, and lots of crowd participation.
The evening’s marquee moment came during the dunk contest, where men’s basketball players launched 360-degree slams and no-look jams that had fans on their feet. Ultimately, Mustafa Mohamed emerged victorious over fellow finalist Devin Binyard, cementing his status as an early fan favorite.
But the night wasn’t just about the college athletes. In perhaps the most endearing moment of the evening, young contestants between ages five and ten raced through the “Suit Up” challenge, frantically pulling on oversized basketball gear before attempting layups. Parents cheered from the stands, creating a family atmosphere that transformed the college event into a community celebration.
“We do our best to make sure there’s something for everybody, and the community shows how much they appreciate it,” organizers noted. Supporters traveled from as far as St. Croix to witness the Buccaneers’ season preview, a testament to the growing buzz surrounding the program.
That buzz is well-earned. Both teams mounted aggressive recruiting campaigns this summer, bringing in talent from across the country. The women’s squad showcased this new depth during their scrimmage, pitting a blue team of transfers against a white team of local players and returners. The competition revealed a program building chemistry at impressive speed, with new and veteran players already learning to complement each other as a cohesive unit.
The women’s team enters the season with championship aspirations, determined to “bring a ring to the rock.” The men’s program is equally focused on elevating UVI basketball’s reputation beyond the territory.
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School cheerleaders, the Rocking Rays, led the excitement, cheering on the Buccaneers during their scrimmages. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Between the competitive action, the UVI Dazzling Sapphires Dance Team, Cultural Titans, and the Ivanna Eudora Kean Rocking Rays kept the energy high with polished performances. For TiLeah Neal, a sophomore member of the Dazzling Sapphires, the night represented something special.
“I love dancing with this group,” Neal said, her face still flushed from performing. “They’re beautiful dancers with great energy, and we just mesh together perfectly.”
TiLeah Neal, sophomore Dazzling Sapphire, posed following an electric performance at Friday night’s Bucs’ Madness. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Three-point contests featuring both teams provided additional thrills, with the men’s home team duo of Jace Camacho and Brandon Rasmussen outlasting the away team, while the women’s away team of Aspyn Roberson and Atalia Thomas claimed their bracket. Musical chairs and a limbo contest featuring moko jumbie mascot “Bucky” rounded out an evening designed to engage every corner of the arena.
Lady Buccaneers Khaelii Robertson-Mack and Sydney Taylor took the court during the women’s 3-point contest. (Source photo by Amara Stokes Gilbert)
Both teams will make their season debuts Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The Lady Buccaneers travel to St. Thomas University, while the men host The Real Basketball Association (RBA) All-Stars from Kingshill, St. Croix, at home. The women’s game will stream live on Urban Edge Network.
Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 11. Our YouTube playlist is updated every week, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates here.
The Village VI Partners in Recovery held an open house on Friday. (Photo by Kareem Alexander)
The Village VI Partners in Recovery team, one of the Virgin Islands’ only residential treatment facilities for individuals battling addiction, opened its doors last Friday for an open house. The event not only raised awareness about addiction recovery services but also celebrated stories of hope and transformation.
According to Brandy Brookes, prevention coordinator at The Village, the open house is a vital opportunity to connect with the wider community. “The Village is one of the only residential treatment facilities for people who are dealing with addiction in the territory,” Brookes said. “We’ve been around the longest, and as a nonprofit, we pull in residents from all over who need care. It’s important for people to know that we’re still here and continuing to serve.”
The Village’s Sion Hill location houses approximately 20 residents at any given time, providing around-the-clock care and support. In addition to its residential program, the organization has expanded its prevention and outpatient treatment services, particularly for youth ages 12 to 25. “Our prevention program is newer,” Brookes explained. “We go to schools and teach students about behavioral health so they can make better decisions and hopefully avoid addiction in the future.”
The open house, held in partnership with Senator-at-Large Angel Bolques Jr., brought together community members, government officials, and former clients. Brookes expressed gratitude for the senator’s support. “Senator Bolques came to our first open house two years ago and encouraged us to continue. This year, he helped with sponsorships and made sure we had what we needed to host this event,” she said.
Bolques also praised the courage of those in recovery. “I am proud of you. It takes a huge amount of courage, determination, and perseverance to decide that you are ready to change your life,” he said.
Sen. Clifford Joseph and Sen. Kurt Vialet were present, and acknowledgments were also given to Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., in recognition of their continued advocacy for recovery services.
Representative from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Damian Lang, speaks on Friday. (Photo by Kareem Alexander)Police Chief Uston A. Cornelius speaks at the open house. (Photo by Kareem Alexander)
Among the guest speakers were Government of the Virgin Islands Administrator Sammuel Sanes, Police Chief Uston A. Cornelius, and Damian Lang, a representative from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, who shared a personal story about his brother’s journey through The Village. “He spoke about how addiction impacted his family and the power of recovery,” Brookes recalled.
Another moving testimony came from Jamila Russell, who spoke about being the daughter of someone who successfully completed treatment at The Village. “Her mother has been sober for 17 years,” Brookes said. “She shared how her mother was able to become the parent she never had—it was a very emotional and powerful moment.”
Former client Maxwell Peters, who recently completed his treatment, also addressed the audience. He is now employed at The Village as a houseman, providing mentorship and maintaining structure for current residents. “It’s inspiring to see someone who has come full circle,” Brookes said. “He knows exactly what our residents are going through.”
Brookes emphasized that while the event celebrated recovery, it also highlighted the ongoing challenges nonprofits face, particularly around funding. “Most nonprofits in the territory are severely underfunded,” she noted. “We’re providing services that often fill the gap where government programs don’t exist. Despite limited funding, we continue to serve those most in need,” she said.
Through the open house, The Village received donations of food, hygiene products, and household items, and even secured a new dryer to replace one that had broken. “Businesses and community members really came through for us,” Brookes said. “Someone even volunteered to host art classes with our residents, which is the kind of community involvement we love to see.”
Looking ahead, The Village hopes to expand its programs and restore services for mothers with children, a program previously offered but paused due to a lack of funding. “Many women don’t seek treatment because they worry about what will happen to their kids,” Brookes explained. “We’re working to change that.”
Brookes said the open house was a reminder that everyone can play a role in supporting recovery. “Not everyone can work in this field, but there are always ways to give back,” she said. “Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or just spreading awareness, every bit helps someone on their journey to recovery.”
The Village VI Partners in Recovery provides residential substance use treatment and prevention programs designed to meet the unique needs of adults and children. Services include safe residential care, one-on-one and group counseling, aftercare support, relapse prevention strategies, substance use prevention and education, job readiness and educational counseling, family and parenting support, youth life skills programs, and youth outpatient treatment.
For more information, contact Treatment Director Carita Stevens-Gumbs at 340-244-1396 or email carita.stevens@westcare.com.
Professional boxer Deion Pruitt, sitting at the chessboxing arena in Loznica, Serbia, before competing. (Submitted photo)
Last week, Virgin Islander and professional boxer Deion Pruitt competed in the 7th World Chessboxing Championship in Loznica, Serbia, winning the bronze medal in the 84-kilogram weight class.
Pruitt, who had a 9-0-0, seven wins by technical knockout, earned his spot on the USA’s chessboxing team and was one of nine, out of 12 team members, to bring medals home for the country.
“It was nice being able to be on that boxing side and being able to add my own experience I’ve had with team US Virgin Islands and bring that over to Team USA,” he said.
Though Pruitt has an undefeated professional record in boxing, this was his first time competing in this hybrid sport.
Chessboxing is a sport that combines chess and boxing, with each round alternating between the two fields for three minutes. The game ends when time runs out, a player is checkmated, or knocked out. The sport emphasizes both strategic thinking in chess and physical endurance in boxing.
There were 17 countries with a total of 174 fighters competing in this year’s tournament. Pruitt first competed against France, allowing him the opportunity to place third and qualify for the bronze medal. He said that after about 90 seconds with three body shots to his opponent, France’s team threw in the towel. He then competed against Russia.
Boxer, Deion Pruitt, viewing the chessboxing arena in Loznica, Serbia, before competing. (Submitted photo)
The “first three minutes of chess was a very even game. I got compliments from a grandmaster saying I was playing at a very high level,” said Pruitt of his fight against his Russian opponent. “I hit him with some tough shots but those Russians can take some shots. They’re just built different.”
Pruitt said his first move after his three-minute boxing round cost him the game.
“I got checkmated right after,” he said. “I respect chess so much more.”
The bronze medalist added that his biggest challenge leading up to this fight has been understanding the game of chess.
“There’s different planes of thought,” he said.
Despite facing an opponent who proved to be a better chess player, Pruitt’s experience during the tournament improved his performance and conviction. Inspired, he even aims to encourage others to participate in chess by establishing clubs in the Virgin Islands and Louisiana, where he currently resides. He also shared that he participated in his first chess tournament representing Ulla Muller Elementary School in 2007 for a territorial school competition and received second place overall. He acknowledged that his chess club teacher was “Mr. Clover.”
Of the competition in Serbia, “I got a bronze medal my first time ever trying this sport,” said Pruitt. “The Virgin Islands knows I’ve been bringing medals home, but to now bring a bronze medal home to the USA is a dream come true.”
He jokingly said he gets asked, “Is he a chessboxer or is he just a boxer now?”
Pruitt added that he plans to continue competing in chessboxing and has future matches lined up, indicating a long-term commitment to the sport.
“I will be a part of chessboxing until I die. I’ll have my first professional chessboxing match in May. I plan to do a bunch of tournaments and play at a Elo chess rating of 2500,” said Pruitt.
“Special shoutout to USVI Boxing Federation for pushing me to become the man I have become today, because without them, I would never have the need to step out and do what I do for myself. They motivated me to go further than the Virgin Islands,” said Pruitt.
The 2025 USA chessboxing team after competing in Loznica, Serbia. (Submitted photo)
To note, James Canty III on Team USA became the Super Heavyweight Chessboxing World Champion in the 7th World Chessboxing Championships.
The Illinois-based parent company of K-Mart did not respond to questions about how many customers were served at the pharmacy at Tutu Park Mall or what prompted the decision to close. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
The abrupt closure of the K-Mart Pharmacy at Tutu Park Mall has raised questions about timely notice to patients about the sudden change. The pharmacy — in operation on St. Thomas since the store first opened in 1995 — closed on Sept. 16.
Those questions became more pronounced with the end-of-the-month arrival of letters from K-Mart’s corporate headquarters in Illinois saying, “As you may be aware, our pharmacy will be closing on Tuesday, September 16th.”
Both the letter and a sign posted to the glass partition where customers used to pick up medications directed them to visit the Walgreens Pharmacy across the road in Anna’s Retreat.
Even the administrators at a medical center inside the mall said they were caught off guard by word of the closure. But Diane Morales, executive assistant to the medical director at St. Thomas East End Medical Center, said staffers there had no advanced notice of the closure.
Questions sent to media services at Transform KM, LLC, asking how many customers were affected by the closure went unanswered. A spokesperson at Walgreens’ corporate headquarters did respond to a press inquiry, but said they could not disclose how many K-Mart Pharmacy patient records were sent over.
“I would encourage you to reach out to K-Mart’s communications team as we do not have those details,” said Senior Specialist Jennifer Coto.
But Coto said the company acknowledged the receipt of pharmacy records. “We welcome patients from any pharmacy and are proud to offer a wide array of healthcare and pharmacy services,” she said.
Newly transferred customers to Walgreens may experience changes at the cash register. National and regional discounts offered by K-Mart Pharmacy no longer apply, but information found online suggests there are discount options available at Walgreens.
Morales said East End Clinic patients are among those who stand to benefit. “The reason why that benefits us as a facility is that we are part of the 340B Pharmacy Program; we are actually the only entity on St. Thomas that has the 340B Pharmacy Pro Discount Program,” Morales said. “I’m able to give them a card that identifies them as our patient and allows them to get the 340 pricing.”
Two other St. Thomas pharmacies — Tradewinds Pharmacy in Red Hook and the Medicine Shoppe at Havensight Mall — also partner with East End Clinic through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, the administrator said.
A small shop with big ideas: Kelly Edens at the Medicine Shoppe says a robotic med dispensing device (in background) allows pharmacists to spend more time with customers. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Medicine Shoppe pharmacist Kelly Edens said her shop is eager to welcome former K-Mart customers. “We try to encourage many people in the community to come here and let them know this pharmacy is able to provide extras that the other pharmacies can’t,” Edens said. “We have a robot that fills medications, we have special equipment to keep an eye on everyone’s meds to make sure they don’t have interactions.”
Medicine Shoppe is one of four small, independent shops that fill prescriptions on St. Thomas aside from the larger stores that are part of national retail chains. But some of the other smaller shops have reportedly expressed interest in welcoming K-Mart pharmacy customers as well.
A map of sargassum observed via satellite in September 2025. Darker red colors indicate more sargassum. (Photo courtesy USF Optical Oceanography Laboratory)
Sargassum levels declined across the region in September, but totals remain above historical norms, leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands and neighboring islands at continued risk of beach inundations, according to a recent report from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab.
“As in previous years, the momentum of sargassum decline continued in September, while total sargassum amounts in each of the five regions decreased,” according to information included in the USF report.
“The decline was substantial in all but the East Atlantic region, with total sargassum amount more than halved. Most sargassum is now in the eastern Caribbean region, followed by the East Atlantic,” USF said.
“In the Gulf, sargassum amounts decreased from 1.9 million metric tons in August to 0.6 million metric tons in September. Yet due to changes in ocean circulation, the amount of sargassum reaching the Straits of Florida increased, likely causing more inundations along the southeast coast of Florida,” the report indicated.
“Despite the overall declines, total sargassum amounts in every area except the East Atlantic region still exceeded the historical record for the month of September, and inundation pressure around many Caribbean regions is still high,” the report noted.
Inundations Still Possible Across Areas Including USVI, Puerto Rico
The trend of decreasing seaweed totals is welcomed news, and a reduction in the amount of sargassum across monitored areas was also reported in a USF report released in August. However, USF cautioned that more inundations should be expected, and the exact locations of algae arrivals are challenging to predict. Still, the report specifically noted the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as areas where sargassum may end up.
“Total sargassum amounts in all regions are likely to continue to decline, possibly reaching the annual minimum between October and November,” USF stated. “However, because the absolute amount is still much higher than any previous September, sargassum inundation of variable degrees will continue to occur, especially along the Mexican Caribbean coast and around Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others.”
“Importantly, whether a beach or small region receives a large amount of sargassum depends on local factors that are difficult to predict, including winds and ocean currents,” USF acknowledged.
The Source contacted Chuanmin Hu, a professor of optical oceanography at USF after receiving the September update. When asked about the potential for more inundations across the USVI, Hu emphasized that while additional seaweed arrivals are possible, they do not automatically mean an extreme inundation will occur.
Minor accumulations of sargassum were observed on September 29, along the North side of St. Croix. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
“Although the amount of sargassum in September is much lower than August, it is still higher than previous September months,” Hu said. “Inundation events may continue to occur around the areas mentioned in the report, but it does not necessarily guarantee that more events or more severe events will occur,” he noted.
A previous Source article included additional information about sargassum in an interview with Yuyuan Xie, Ph.D., a research scientist at USF. Xie is involved with the university’s OOL.
“Pelagic sargassum seaweed is a brown macroalgae floating on the ocean surface,” Xie said. “It was first reported in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus, and a regional sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Sargasso Sea, was named after this plant. Sargassum serves as a habitat for many marine animals, such as turtles, fish, shrimp, crabs, and so on. These macroalgae can grow to a length of several meters and form floating mats on the ocean surface,” Xie continued.
Health Impacts
Sargassum has positive and negative benefits for the environment. Fortunately, the arrival of the algae is not extremely dangerous to people. However, there are some significant health risks.
“Most of the time, moderate amounts on beaches would not represent a risk factor for humans. However, there are exceptions,” cautioned Xie. “After a couple of days onshore, sargassum starts to decompose and release noxious and stinking gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The bad smell can cause respiratory problems. There are reports that in some of the Caribbean Islands, the hospitalization rate has gone up during the sargassum season,” he said.
“Sargassum can be both good and bad for the environment. In the ocean, it is a critical habitat for many animals, so they should like to see increased sargassum. Sargassum on beaches can also stabilize sand dunes, thus helping to avoid beach erosion. But too much of a good thing can also make it bad — excessive amounts of sargassum can also cause environmental and economic problems,” Xie added.
“There is no scientific consensus on exactly what caused the sargassum increases in the past decade in the Atlantic Ocean, but climate change may be part of the reason, as it affects precipitation, ocean circulation, and dust events, among others. This is still a research topic,” according to Xie. “The current predictions for a busy year of sargassum are based on statistical models rather than the exact causes of why the amount of seaweed is expected to increase.”
Finally, in addition to tracking the occurrence of sargassum, residents and visitors across the U.S. Virgin Islands are encouraged to continue monitoring the local weather forecast.
The NHC is monitoring Disturbance #2 in the central Atlantic, which has a medium chance of development over the next seven days. Residents and visitors across the USVI are encouraged to monitor the system closely. The NHC has also flagged “Disturbance #1,” an area of low pressure in the Gulf; however, the system is not expected to develop. (Photo courtesy of NHC)
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave moving across the Atlantic Ocean with a medium risk of development over the next seven days. The wave, currently designated as “Disturbance #2,” could potentially develop into at least a tropical depression as it travels west to west-northwest across the Main Development Region between the west coast of Africa and the Caribbean. Residents are urged to follow the forecast closely.
The NHC has also flagged “Disturbance #1,” an area of low pressure in the Gulf; however, the system is not expected to develop.
Marine conditions will remain hazardous across the local islands until early this week. (Photo courtesy NWS)
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has warned that very warm temperatures will persist across the area, and heat alerts may be issued. Showers and thunderstorms are also possible, and marine conditions will remain hazardous for the next few days due to a powerful swell affecting the local islands. Multiple marine alerts are currently in effect for areas of Puerto Rico and the USVI.
Seaman Arami Mazara, a 2022 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, is serving aboard the USS Cole, a U.S. Navy destroyer based in Norfolk, Virginia, as the ship observes the 25th anniversary of a terrorist attack that killed 17 sailors and wounded 37 others, a press release announced.
Seaman Arami Mazara (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marieliza Rosales, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East)
Mazara, who joined the Navy a year ago, serves as a retail services specialist. “I joined the Navy to be the first in my family to enter military service,” Mazara said. “I also wanted to see the world outside of the island, and I knew I could do that in the Navy.”
The attack on the Cole occurred in October 2000, when two al-Qaida suicide bombers detonated explosives while the ship was refueling in Yemen. The blast tore a 40-foot hole in the vessel, and sailors worked more than 96 hours to free trapped shipmates, contain flooding and prevent catastrophic fires, according to the press release.
Nicknamed the “Determined Warrior,” the Cole returned to service in April 2002 after 14 months of repairs and has since deployed on numerous missions. Its most recent deployment in 2024 lasted seven months, with operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf to provide deterrence and defense for U.S. allies and partners, the press release stated.
The Cole is a multi-mission destroyer equipped with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a Phalanx close-in weapons system. More than 300 sailors serve on board, performing highly specialized jobs ranging from engine maintenance to weapons handling, the release stated.
Mazara said he takes pride in his work and accomplishments. “I’m proudest of winning Blue Jacket of the Quarter last year, and I’m grateful to everyone onboard USS Cole who helped me get there,” he said.
The Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. Officials noted that America’s prosperity is tied to the seas, with 90 percent of global commerce traveling by ship and undersea fiber optic cables supporting internet access, the release stated.
“Serving in the Navy means I am making my family proud and enjoying my time seeing the world,” Mazara said.
Thomas F. Shelley, aka Tom Shelley, of Christiansted, St. Croix, passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025. He was 85 years old.
Thomas F. Shelley
He is survived by his son, Scott T. Shelley; special friends, Christine Oliver (Personal Caretaker), Barbara Henderson, Alan Bronstein, Leroy Parker, Errol Cromwell, Lew Drain, and Tracy Bradshaw; other relatives and friends to include, Staff and Members of Quantum Health Care Services, The Turning Point Senior Care, JFL Surgical Ward and Emergency Ward, Express Deli Sandwiches Tide Village & McChain Hamm & Associates; a host of other friends too numerous to mention.
The family of Thomas F. Shelley would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all who have expressed their condolences. At this time, they will mourn their loss privately.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schuster’s Crematorium, LLC.
