Hurricane Thanksgiving Day was not over before Virgin Islands residents began discussing the threat of tropical storm Jose.
The National Weather Service suggests residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands closely monitor the progress of Jose for two reasons: The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today and predictions now have the course of Jose going between St. Croix and St. Thomas and affecting the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.
VITEMA head Col. Gene Walker urged Virgin Islands residents to start preparations today for the possible impact of this strengthening tropical storm.
The Tuesday 5 a.m. National Weather Service report placed the center of tropical storm Jose near 13.8 north longitude and 57.5 west latitude or about 140 miles east-northeast of Barbados. Jose is moving toward the west-northwest at 13 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.