ST. CROIX — The rain came down hard on St. Croix late this afternoon, and it is not expected to go away for a couple more days.
An approaching deep layered trough expected to bring an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico beginning today and continuing until Friday will result in an enhanced risk of flooding, mudslides and rapid river rises, according to the National Weather Service.
The anticipated unstable and wet weather pattern will bring prolonged periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall that is forecast to bring between 2 to 3 inches in the St. Thomas/St. John District and 3 to 4 inches on St. Croix throughout the three-day period, Glorianne Rivera, an NWS meteorologist with the office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said.
“We’re expecting the trough to continue approaching the area, and we are expecting to receive those rains starting from noon and continue through Friday,” Rivera said today, adding that the trough is expected to continue moving east.
As the storm weather approaches the territory, NWS predicts the wettest days should be today and Thursday. Enough moisture, however, will linger into early in the weekend. An elevated excessive rainfall risk for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will enhance the potential for flooding in urban areas, roads, and small streams, with the possibility of isolated flash flooding.
Rivera urged Virgin Islanders to keep an eye on the weather conditions, stressing the importance for residents living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground if necessary.
While NWS is stressing the importance of monitoring the storm pattern, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources issues its own advisory today.
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol advises the public that given the forecasts of heavy rain and potential flooding to refrain from using the coastal waters throughout the territory until further notification, according to a DPNR news release.
DPNR is also advising parents to instruct their children to keep away from stormwater-impacted beaches as well as areas with manholes and stormwater flooding. There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in stormwater-impacted areas because of increased concentrations of bacteria.
DPNR noted in its news release that stormwater runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health, so everybody should avoid areas of stormwater runoff, including guts, puddles, and drainage basins. DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
DPNR advises all contractors, developers, and home builders to immediately maintain and implement additional erosion and sediment control practices at all areas where property is cleared, graded, filled, or otherwise disturbed. The department is urging individuals to visually locate areas that may need additional erosion and sediment control measures. Those measures include, but are not limited to preservation of natural vegetation, drainage swales or diversions, temporary and permanent seeding, soil sealers or binders, erosion control mats, soil retaining walls, construction entrances and exits, silt fencing, sediment traps, and mulches, mats, and geotextiles.
Additionally, DPNR advises that all construction materials and equipment be removed from sites or properly secured. This includes all items likely to become airborne objects that may cause damage to the property or adjacent parcels.
To report any areas of concern, individuals can contact DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection Earth Change Program at 774-3320 or 773-1082.
