July 29, 2001 – A vigorous westward moving tropical wave swetp across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Sunday afternoon, bringing rain, thundershowers and gusty winds to the region.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts across the Virgin Islands in excess of 40 miles per hour at some locations. The tropical wave, which on late afternoon satellite photographs appears to be a tropical depression in the making, is expected to continue to cross the local area Sunday night, bringing additional rain and thundershowers to the region.
A flash food watch advisory was issued for the territory and portions of the Puerto Rico commonwealth.
"The potential for flash flooding exists for all of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as well as Culebra and Vieques," said Rafael Mojica, deputy director of the NWS forecast office in San Juan.
Earlier in the day, satellite photographs showed the wave extending from the northeastern Caribbean through the Leeward Islands. The wave has maintained a steady pace to the west at 15-20 miles per hour.
Mojica also said marine conditions were expected to continue deteriorating. "Mariners across the local coastal waters should remain in safe port as dangerous marine conditions are expected to persist at least through Monday morning," he said.
The official marine forecast Sunday night called for easterly swells of 9-11 feet with wind gusts frequently reaching gale force levels.
In addition to the flash flood watch, a wind advisory was posted for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"Showers and strong thundershowers are in the forecast as well as locally heavy downpours. Flooding is possible with windy condition persisting. Overnight low temperatures are expected in the mid to upper 70s," Mojica said in the latest advisory issued Sunday by the forecast office in San Juan.
The heavy showers and thundershowers began to affect the U.S. Virgin Islands early Sunday afternoon with some minor flooding reported in the low-lying areas.
It could not be determined whether an outage of Innovative cable television service at mid-afternoon was triggered by the inclement weather.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, both districts reported showers and occasional thundershowers with temperatures in the upper 70s and gusty winds prevailing.
The NWS is expected to reevaluate the flash flood watch at midnight. It will decide then whether to cancel the advisory or extend the watch through 6 a.m. Monday. The National Hurricane Center issued no advisories or public statements Sunday on whether the tropical wave was approaching tropical depression status. A tropical depression is declared when sustained winds top 35 miles per hour.
