Invest 98L - heads up everyone!

Hey everyone,

keep an eye on Invest 98L which might hit us, pretty close to Omar's anniversary.

By tomorrow morning we should have a better idea on what it's going to do, but it looks like it should definitely be a depression by then, if not close to a TS. Please monitor your weather sites! http://www.stormcarib.com

'Bout time. The last Sonja bracelet I bought was Omar. If we're going to support the local economy we should be rooting for more storms = more jewelry.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
* BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
* ANGUILLA...BARBUDA...ST. KITTS... NEVIS...ANTIGUA...AND MONTSERRAT
* SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS...AND ST. MAARTIN
* ST. MARTIN
* GUADELOUPE...DESIRADE...LES SAINTES...MARIE GALANTE
* MARTINIQUE
* ST. LUCIA

Issued By: VITEMA
Affected Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties

Headline: VITEMA to Activate Emergency Operations Centers Territorywide in Response to Tropical Storm Rafael

The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, VITEMA, Director Elton Lewis will partially activate Emergency Operations Centers territorywide in response to Tropical Storm Rafael, which was located 200 miles south southeast of the VIrgin Islands at 8 p.m. and moving at 12 miles per hour with 40 miles per hour winds. FEMA support has also been requested and a forward team is expected in the Virgin Islands on Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that showers and thunderstorms, beginning tonight and lasting through Sunday, will dump 3 to 5 inches of rain on the Virgin Islands. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect.

VITEMA is urging the public to take all precautionary measures to protect life and property and to monitor VI Alert, TV and radio stations and NOAA weather radios for updated information on Tropical Storm Rafael and for flash flood watches and warnings.

Alert / Warning
Transportation - Transportation - Not Otherwise Categorized

...This is an ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION - NOT OTHERWISE CATEGORIZED ALERT...

Issued By: VITEMA
Affected Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties

Headline: US Coast Guard Set Port Condition Yankee for the US Virgin Islands, Intra-island Service Able to Continue Operations

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Captain of the Port, Drew Pearson, has set Port Condition YANKEE for all the ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands due to incoming Tropical Storm Rafael.

During Port Condition YANKEE the ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands are open to outbound vessel traffic only, while commercial inbound vessels are restricted from entering the port. Under Port Condition YANKEE, intra island service may continue to operate subject to prudent and safe seamanship. The ferry system can still decide to stop the ferry service at anytime they determine that operations are no longer safe for their vessels and operations.

So, no warning as to when WAPA will shut down the grid?

So, no warning as to when WAPA will shut down the grid?

Highly unlikely that WAPA will shut down the grid for a little tropical storm. There have been many minor hurricanes over the years when they've stayed on. Odd pockets can go down if a transformer blows in heavy winds but I wouldn't anticipate a grid shut-down for this disturbance.

OldTart, I hope you are right! They are unpredictable at best.

I find this map easier to read.
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/USVI0006?animation=true

Just prepare for an outage, in case one happens.
We should all have our supplies in place by now.
Hopefully, all we will get is some nice rain and can enjoy a day, reading and relaxing.
Fingers crossed!

Think I'll go check the generator fuel level*-)

Is anyone taking TS Raphael seriously?

I'm housesitting and fielding calls from VETERAN islanders (i.e., Hugo survivors) who are asking me to do all kinds of hurricane prep involving securing boats and outdoor furniture, etc, and the CSA just cancelled the C'sted delivery tomorrow. Meanwhile my accountant is lollygagging it with his worst employee in F'sted giving me no clue as to when I'm supposed to get my taxes which have to be filed on Monday. WTF? is this real or not? Veterans tell me yes, others seem not to give a crap. Whom do I believe? The last thing I want to do tomorrow if there's a storm is haul my ass all the way across the island from Cotton Valley to F'sted.

Iris, take it seriously. There is nothing worse than should have, could have, would have in the aftermath of a storm. So, if you prepare and you did so for nothing, it's better than doing nothing and wish you had prepared. IMHO.

I tend to error on the side of caution when it comes to storms. They CAN be unpredictable.

I would secure that stuff today.

looks like it has made a turn ?

Dixie, this storm has turned a little, however, it's a huge storm. It extends outward to 175miles from the center. A slight turn is nothing.

you are right bratt. and could wobble back. the rain would be great. as long as everyone stays safe,

WAPA has a three strike rule in place I believe. They will try to stay on throughout the storm. If a feeder goes down they will attempt only twice to bring it back up. The third time it will stay off until they can check after the storm and see what's wrong.

It'scurrently heading north - if it stays on that current path we'll only get clipped by the bottom section. You can see the center on the radar image here

http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/antilles/pack-public/animation/animMOSAIC2.html

Issued By: VITEMA
Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties
Headline: Tropical Storm Rafael to Stay East of the Virgin Islands; Curfew Not Imposed
Description:
Tropical Storm Rafael is forecasted to stay east of the Virgin Islands, just brushing the Territory, and then resume a north-northwest track early on Sunday. Earlier forecasts of the system projected that Rafael would pass very near or over the Virgin Islands.

On the forecast track, the center of Rafael is expected to pass near the Virgin Islands tonight but the latest track indicates
the Territory is not expected to experience tropical storm force winds tonight and the closest point of approach of the storm center to the Virgin Islands will occur at 1 a.m. Sunday when the center of Tropical Storm Rafael passes some 69 miles to the east-northeast of St. John.

At 5 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Rafael was located near Latitude 17.3 degrees north, Longitude 63.3 degrees west and moving toward the north-northeast near 12 miles per hour. A northward motion is expected tonight followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Sunday.

Based on the latest track information and recommendations from VITEMA Director Elton Lewis and his executive leadership, Gov. John P. de Jongh Jr. has decided against imposing a curfew and will not set a price freeze.
Instructions:
In the event the track of this storm changes, Department of Human Services and Department of Health personnel remain on stand-by to open shelters for the general public and the Special Needs population. VITEMA will also keep its Emergency Operations
Centers personnel on alert in the event there is a significant change in the system’s track.

One of those times when doing all that work for nothing, really doesn't upset me at all! 😀

Pretty much a non event here in STT for which I am grateful. Very little rain and no wind to speak of.
Glad I decided not to haul everything off my decks and do the Chinese fire drill which I normally do.
I did pull my more fragile plants off the decks, just in case.
After experiencing both Hugo and Marilyn, I tend to get overly anxious about storms.
Glad it is going merrily on is way without causing damage to anyone here in the VI.
Saw video of St. Kitts getting a good lashing on the Weather Channel this morning!
Enjoy your Sunday!

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2012/10/14/rafael-fizzles-territory-gets-minor-rain-strong-breeze

Iris, take it seriously. There is nothing worse than should have, could have, would have in the aftermath of a storm. So, if you prepare and you did so for nothing, it's better than doing nothing and wish you had prepared. IMHO.

I tend to error on the side of caution when it comes to storms. They CAN be unpredictable.

Yeah, you're right. Besides I kinda HAVE to since I'm charged, as a housesitter, with taking care of the homeowner's property. I will confess I did not put all the pool furniture in the empty pool as requested but, instead, collected it from the yard and stacked it closer to the house. WAAAAY too many dead frogs in that pool for me to go down there unless I've got no choice. Disassembling the Hobie Cat was a little more labor intensive. At least I didn't have to put up shutters this time. God bless whomever invented hurricane "proof" window glass.

IT

Hey everyone,

keep an eye on Invest 98L which might hit us, pretty close to Omar's anniversary.

By tomorrow morning we should have a better idea on what it's going to do, but it looks like it should definitely be a depression by then, if not close to a TS. Please monitor your weather sites! http://www.stormcarib.com

'Bout time. The last Sonja bracelet I bought was Omar. If we're going to support the local economy we should be rooting for more storms = more jewelry.

Ummmmm given how long we were without power after Omar and how much monetary damage it did (why yes Weather Channel we DID have a hurricane on the East End of St. Croix) I am not rooting for any storms. Some rain yes...but no..not a real storm.

Hey everyone,

keep an eye on Invest 98L which might hit us, pretty close to Omar's anniversary.

By tomorrow morning we should have a better idea on what it's going to do, but it looks like it should definitely be a depression by then, if not close to a TS. Please monitor your weather sites! http://www.stormcarib.com

'Bout time. The last Sonja bracelet I bought was Omar. If we're going to support the local economy we should be rooting for more storms = more jewelry.

Ummmmm given how long we were without power after Omar and how much monetary damage it did (why yes Weather Channel we DID have a hurricane on the East End of St. Croix) I am not rooting for any storms. Some rain yes...but no..not a real storm.

'Tis a luxury I have not being a property owner. You, on the other hand, got screwed, not by Omar, but by your insurance company.

IT

Lets not forget WAPA, Innovative...etc etc etc etc etc ......

Hey everyone,

keep an eye on Invest 98L which might hit us, pretty close to Omar's anniversary.

By tomorrow morning we should have a better idea on what it's going to do, but it looks like it should definitely be a depression by then, if not close to a TS. Please monitor your weather sites! http://www.stormcarib.com

'Bout time. The last Sonja bracelet I bought was Omar. If we're going to support the local economy we should be rooting for more storms = more jewelry.

Ummmmm given how long we were without power after Omar and how much monetary damage it did (why yes Weather Channel we DID have a hurricane on the East End of St. Croix) I am not rooting for any storms. Some rain yes...but no..not a real storm.

'Tis a luxury I have not being a property owner. You, on the other hand, got screwed, not by Omar, but by your insurance company.

IT

PPS _ luxurious it is not..unless you happen to be independently wealthy and can hire out all the crapwork. Alas, 'Tis a luxury I have not being a property owner..