‘Fish storm’ expected to pass north of the USVI as a strong tropical cyclone

SAN JUAN — Tropical Cyclone Five is slowly approaching the Lesser and Greater Antilles and expected to build into a hurricane but only after it passes north of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday, forecasters said.

“The rainfall totals from the National Hurricane Center are thus: for the northern Leeward Islands, 4 to 6 inches of rain,” Meteo Mundo Chief Meteorologist Rusty McCranie said. “For Puerto Rico, believe it or not, and it’s not showing up a ton on the GFS model, but we’re looking at 3 to 6 inches of rain and locally up to 10. OK? So we really need to prepare in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for some excessive rainfall.”

Uncertainty still exists in the future track and intensity of this system, but the potential for flooding, mudslides and hazardous seas is high at this time. Please stay in touch with the Virgin Islands Free Press for further updates. As of 5:00 p.m., the showers and thunderstorms of TCF continue to show some signs of organization in association with a broad area of low pressure located about 950 miles (1530 km) east-southeast of Antigua.