Oct. 16, 2003 – The prognosis continues to look good for the Virgin Islands to avoid any adverse effects from Tropical Storm Nicholas, which is projected to pass well to the east of the territory.
"Based on the current track, it should be no problem," Brad Diehl, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Juan, said on Thursday afternoon. He said the territory should not even see any high seas associated with the system.
As of 5 p.m., the storm was centered at 14.4 degrees north latitude and 47 degrees west longitude, placing it about 1,260 miles southeast of St. Thomas. Sustained winds were recorded at 65 mph with gusts to 75 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended out 105 miles from the center of the system.
Forecasters still think Nicholas will become a hurricane, perhaps by Friday. It was moving northwest at 8 mph on Thursday afternoon, and the barometric pressure stood at 994 millibars or 29.34 inches.
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