Wind And Rain Expected This Weekend As Kirk Passes South Of St. Croix

Tropical Storm Kirk was maintaining 50 miles per hour winds as of 5:00 a.m. this morning as it continues to push its way towards the Lesser Antilles, with Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe currently under tropical storm warnings.

According to the National Hurricane Center (N.H.C.), interests elsewhere in the central and northern Lesser Antilles, which includes the USVI, should monitor the progress of Kirk.

On Wednesday, VITEMA said it was monitoring the storm’s progress. “My staff and I are working closely with our partners at the National Weather Service located in San Juan, PR to ensure we receive real-time updates on the progress of Tropical Storm Kirk,” VITEMA Director Mona Barnes said. “We are still in the peak of the 2018 hurricane season, Virgin Islanders must continue to remain vigilant and prepared. VITEMA will continue to track Tropical Storm Kirk’s progress and provide regular updates.”

According to N.H.C., at 5:00 a.m. today the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located near latitude 13.5 North, longitude 58.3 West. Kirk is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion with a slight decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Kirk will move across the Lesser Antilles within the tropical storm warning area by this evening.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is anticipated during the next couple of days, but Kirk is forecast to move across the Lesser Antilles and into the eastern Caribbean Sea as a tropical storm. Another Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate Kirk later this morning.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km), mostly north and east of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the warning area this afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by this afternoon.

Rain: Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands with isolated maximum totals up to 10 inches across Martinique and Dominica. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Across eastern Puerto Rico, Kirk is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches by Friday and Saturday.