High Surf — St. Croix, Virgin Islands

2010-09-17 · St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Event narrative

A 16 year old male swimming with his father drowned in high surf near the Carambola Beach Resort.

Wider weather episode

Large, long period northeast and then north swells of 9 to 13 feet generated by Hurricane Igor began affecting the U.S. Virgin Islands late in the evening on Thursday, September 16th, and continued through Tuesday September 21. These long period swells produced very large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet or higher along local reefs, beaches, and shoals of the local islands. The swells produced minor coastal flooding, beach erosion, minor structural damage, and one drowning near the Carambola Beach Resort, 2 miles northeast of Christiansted, Saint Croix.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 258297. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.