Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Floyd:
The storm, which is expected to gain strength and could reach hurricane status within 24 hours, turned this morning from a west-northwest movement to a westerly track, but was expected to return to a west-northwesterly path later today.
It is currently projected to pass some 145 miles north of the Virgin Islands over the weekend, bringing rain and rough seas locally.
As of 11 a.m., Floyd was centered about 385 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The storm, with maximum sustained winds continuing at about 60 mph, had been projected at 5 a.m. to pass about 270 miles northeast of St. Thomas and St. John around 2 a.m. Saturday. Further projections will depend on whether it continues westward or again moves into the expected northwesterly course.
According to weather analysts, Floyd is still expected to pass north of the Leeward Islands, but if the westerly track persists, storm watches and/or warnings may be required for some of those islands later today. The storm "appears poised to undergo significant strengthening," they said.
Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 145 miles from the center of Floyd. Its inner core may be getting better organized, weather personnel said early today. A low-level trough approaching the U.S. mainland East Coast could impact on its course but analysts now say it may not be sufficient to redirect Floyd.
The coordinates of the storm's center at 11 a.m. Thursday were 17.2 degrees north latitude and 55.5 degrees west longitude.
Local coordinates are 18.3 degrees north and 65.0 degrees west for St. Thomas, and 17.7 degrees west and 64.8 degrees north for St. Croix. A degree equals 360 miles.
Gene Walker, executive director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said local residents should be "tightening the screws" in terms of finalizing routine hurricane season preparations for the passage of Floyd over the weekend.
This, he said, should include making sure the household emergency kit contains a three-day supply of drinking water, food and medications and a radio with extra batteries.
As for VITEMA itself, "We are ready," Walker told Radio One News.
He said the telephone numbers to call the agency for further information are 774-2244 on St. Thomas, 773-2244 on St. Croix and 693-5050 on St. John (not 776-6444, the number given in telephone books).
