Flash Flood · Virgin Islands

Heavy rain with measured rainfall accumulations of 6 inches in some areas, led to flooding of homes in the downtown area of Saint Thomas. Several families were evacuated due to flooded homes.

During the period from October 4-8, 2010, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico endured a period of persistent heavy rains that caused major flooding and landslides, leading to a declaration of a state of emergency by both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican governments. Impressive rainfall amounts accumulated across the islands during the five day period, which began on the October 4th and ended on October 8th. This rainfall was associated with the passage of a tropical wave that eventually became Subtropical Depression Seventeen on the morning of Wednesday October 6th, when it was located about 270 miles north northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Later that same day, this system strengthened into Subtropical Storm Otto and completed its transition to Tropical Storm Otto on October 7th. Already the 15th named storm of the season, this system became Hurricane Otto on the afternoon of October 8th, the eighth hurricane of the season. Although the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico remained well to the southeast and south of the tropical storm wind field, the distant rain bands which formed Otto's tail impacted the local area for many days, pulling moist and unstable tropical air northward across the islands. This resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms, as well as strong gusty winds both over land and over water.