Sept. 23, 2002 – While the National Weather Service has upgraded Tropical Depression 13 to Tropical Storm Lili, it appears the Virgin Islands will be spared the worst of its effects. Miguel Sierra, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Juan, said at mid-day Monday that he expects the storm to pass 150 to 200 miles south of the Virgin Islands starting Tuesday afternoon.
"St. Croix will be more affected," Sierra said, because of its more southerly position. He said Tropical Storm Lili will bring rain and thunderstorms to the area, with wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph expected, particularly when thunderstorms hit. He expects these conditions to continue through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.
Harold Baker, director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said he expected showers and wind gusts to start Monday afternoon. "There might be some flooding," he added.
As of 11 p.m. Monday, Lili was centered at 12.7 degrees north latitude and 62.7 degrees west longitude, placing it about 95 miles west of the Grenadines.
Baker said he expected that by 2 a.m. Tuesday, the storm system would be 320 miles southeast of St. Croix and 275 miles southeast of St. Thomas. "It's moving very fast," he said.
According to the National Weather Service, the system was moving westward at nearly 17 mph Monday night with a sustained winds of 60 mph. The storm was expected to continue on a west to northwest track at a slightly slower speed with gradual strengthening over the next 24 hours. Winds of tropical storm force extended outward up to 105 miles from the center of the system.
Baker urged residents to expect the rain, wind and possible flooding that the storm will bring and to be prepared in case Tropical Storm Lili intensifies and/or veers toward the territory. "Maintain the same vigilance until you get the all clear," he said.
Sierra said that currently there are no other storm systems in the Atlantic Ocean that show signs of development.
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