The 9 a.m. report from the National Weather Center has Hurricane Lenny upgraded to a category four hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale with maximum sustained winds at 135 mph. At 9 a.m. AST the center of Hurricane Lenny was located near latitude 16.9 north, longitude 65.4 west or about 70 miles southwest of St. Croix. Lenny is moving toward the east-northeast near 13 mph.
St. Croix is located at latitude 17.45 north and longitude 64.45 west.
The present speed and direction of Hurricane Lenny will have the worse of the storm hitting St. Croix's south shore at about 3 p.m.
St. Croix has been experiencing sustained tropical storm force winds since 8 a.m. Wednesday with peak gusts of 62 mph.
Flash flood warnings are still in place due to rainfall accompanying Lenny. The usual flood areas on St. Thomas are already impassable, specifically on the Harwood Highway near Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, according to June Archibald from V.I. Territorial Management Agency.
A power outage mid-island in the Tutu area was reported to St. Thomas Source at 9:15 a.m.
