After reopening the Cyril E. King Airport at 8:05 a.m. Thursday, worsening weather conditions due to Tropical Storm Jose have caused V.I. Port Authority Director Gordon Finch to close the airport until further notice.
A large area of tropical storm force winds 100 miles to the southeast of Jose are affecting St. Thomas and the northern Virgin Islands, and could continue to affect the area until 8 p.m., according to projections by th National Weather Service. As 11 a.m. Jose, which was downgraded to a Tropical Storm earlier on Thursday, was located at 18.6 degrees north latitude and 65.1 west longitude.
Finch has also directed all Port Authority personnel to report to work by 1 p.m. to secure their areas. Any employees who do not show up for work will be docked, according to Shirley L. Smith, Port Authority spokesperson.
Smith also reported that the Red Hook Dock on St. Thomas and the Boynes Dock in Cruz Bay, St. John are open to vessels under 200 gross tons. All other ports remain closed as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Further updates will be reported as information becomes available.
