TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Hurricane Maria

My wife just sadly said Maria's officially a hurricane now. All slates are clean, let's keep our positive thoughts and prayers directed to those we are all thinking about 24/7. God bless them all.

The only positive is that it is still looking like it will be a decent distance from the islands that we're devastated by Irma. And it looks to only be a cat 3. *knock on wood*

A "Hurricane Watch" is now in effect for both the B.V.I and the U.S.V.I. due to Hurricane Maria.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/162038.shtml

More info:

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-maria

you posted the exact same thing 2 posts ago, we get it Maria will be a hurricane

Matt, yes the eye is tracking a little south but Cat3 is Cat 3, quick look at windguru (Which adjusts its numbers frequently)shows St Croix, St John, St Thomas predicted to have seas in low to high 20ft range and winds 70 to over 100+. Tortola not drastically better with winds 60+ and 18 foot seas. They desperately need Maria to push farther south. Then there is Puerto Rico which is the primary relief hub for the islands, go south b**ch!!!!

Something surreal when we refer to a cat 3 as "only a cat 3". But you are right... compared to 185mph this will be a mere windy day. Atleast we all hope and pray that's the case.

Actually they update the old links to new information,
but since I am not part of the private club here, I won't bother you anymore.

Yeah, not that it isn't something to be concerned about or prepare for, but a bit more usual for what the Islands tend to see and are better prepared to handle - when in their undamaged state anyway. Certainly anything hitting the islands that were devastated is a problem.

Looks like it is going to hit the Virgin Islands "only" as a Cat 4 Tuesday p.m. or Wed. a.m. with 12 to 18 inches of rain plus storm surge. No big deal I guess.

At this stage tropical storm force winds and accompanying rain is a very big deal for Tortola. The delays in relief efforts is another really big problem. Many of the relief boats come from Fajardo. How much damage will it suffer.

What will be the impact if stx and sju suffer significant closures?

You've got to be kidding me

Mike
He doesn't give us more than we can handle
but sometimes I wish He had a little less confidence.

This is not good, I am not sure how much more some of the BVI islands can handle. Rain is a big deal to the islands that now have such minimal vegetation. I am not sure how much more the people of the BVI are going to be able to withstand.

Just got info from some charter bases in Road Town that staff must evacuate back to PR because shelters and protection are much better there.
I can't believe this is happening... Poor people...

It's a nightmare when people have to evacuate to a place that has issued a State of Emergency themselves. Non stop thoughts and prayers.

As posted on it's own thread... but Maria is now a Cat 5!

Douwe (a cousin) deployed with the Dutch to serve Sint Maarten. He had to break the news that "another one was coming". He was heartbroken over the response. over the people he was serving.

He's the guy with the big brown chin...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=128513987797223&set=a.108613389787283.1073741828.100019158678186&type=3&theater

For the Virgin Islands:

in addition to being a Cat 5.....

10 to 15 inches of rain,
storm surge 6 to 9 feet.

same old link, but is updated as # 11:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/162038.shtml

Windguru predicts 200 km/h Windspeed for wednesday. Devasting

Heartbreaking!

Hurricane force winds only go out to 30 miles, so BVI looks to be outside the hurricane force winds, as of this morning's fix. Thankful for that. Not so San Juan, something like 7 miles, closest point of approach.

I find this to be somewhat unsettling and ironic that all of this is occurring on the sesquicentennial year of the sinking of the Rhone in 1867. She was hit by a category 3 storm. It is difficult, when all we can do is wait and see what happens to a place we all care so deeply about.

It looks like St Croix that was mostly spared from Irma will take a hit. This could slow rebuilding efforts. Let's hope for a further turn south. It wobbled a bit north last night but thankfully resumed its prior track.
G

Maria is moving slower at 9mph than Irma at 15 mph which is worrisome.

I am very sad & scared for all the people & places we love in the BVI, this is so not good....praying & praying, Maria is coming at them...Anegada strong

The eye is now visible on the San Juan radar. Looks to me that it will be 70 to 80 miles south of Roadtown. It's a small break that should keep additional damage down in the BVI. Hurricane force wings extend 35 miles out from the center. St Croix will see the eye pass about 20 miles south and St Thomas about 60 miles. Rains will be a big problem for everyone.
G

Praying.....

Hope everyone does well. The devastation caused by these two storms is unreal.

The eye is now 50 miles from the ST Croix airport and winds are only 30 gusting to 40 knots. Peak wind 42 knots or 50 MPH. Hope that bodes well for the BVI!

beyond belief, the islands are just rebuilding and now this

Blessings and love to everyone down there..our hearts are breaking for all islanders in paradise..

Eye is due south of Roadtown about 73 miles away. It's 40 miles from the STX airport. Their last report was peak winds about 74 MPH. Should be moving away from the BVI now. Looks like winds should not have been over 50 MPH. Better than I hoped. St Croix has a rough 8 hours ahead with the eye getting within 20 miles. The West end of Puerto Rico is bore sited. Could hurt the BVI recovery efforts.

Sustained winds are 175mph and the pressure is now estimated to be 909, lower than Irma was. The increased intensity means the hurricane force winds will now extend 60 miles from the center. Closest Point of approach to Cane Garden Bay is estimated at 66.1 miles.

Are there any reports coming out of the BVI? Looks like the storm took a turn North and impacted San Juan more than expected.
G

Reports on FB this morning are all very good...they missed the worst of it from what I am hearing from Tortola and VG.