Tropical Storm — St. Croix, Virgin Islands

2004-09-14 to 2004-09-17 · St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Jeanne affected the territory with high winds and torrential rains, leaving downed trees, utility poles, power outages, and widespread flooding in its wake. The U.S. virgin Islands were declared a major disaster area. Jeanne caused 6.4 million in damage to infra structure. Jeanne dumped over 12 inches of rain in St. Thomas during the three day period from September 14-17. At the St. Croix airport, 6.06 inches were recorded during the same period, although a spotter in a location north of Fredericksted, at Butler Bay ,recorded 8.73 inches for the 24 hour period ending at 6 am on September 16. On St. John, a spotter at Rainbow Hill, Cruz Bay, recorded 10.39 inches for the period from 630 am on Sep. 14th through 630 am on Sep. 17th. The maximum 24 hour rainfall at Charlotte Amalie of 9.25 inches has a return frequency of 25 years. The Turpentine Run at Mt. Zion station in St. Tomas, set a new record of 8.65 feet, which broke the previous record of 7.28 feet set in 1995. On St . Thomas, about 20 people had to be rescued early Thursday morning when flood waters overtook areas of Brookman Road, Estate Nazareth, and Sanchez Town in Nadir. Estate Nadir was hit the hardest when the water swelled out of the runoff channels and overtaxed drainage ditches, causing widespread flooding and erosion. On St Croix, flooding was reported in Gallows Bay, Estate Ruby, Estate Grove Place, Estate Whim, Tide Village, Calquohoun, Midland Road, Mon-Bijou and Frangipani. The rains brought mudslides and forced large rocks onto roadways on Queen Mary Highway. On St John, downed trees, mud and rock slides were reported. The agricultural impact was significant in St. Croix mainly were major flooding occurred. Farmers experienced significant damage and crop losses with bananas, plantains, sugar cane, vegetables and fruit trees. Plants that were not destroyed by the winds eventually overturned due to waterlogged conditions. Winds reports in the U.S. Virgin Islands varied, the St Croix airport recorded sustained winds of 52 mph with gusts to 62 mph. The St Thomas airport recorded sustained winds of 39 mph with gust to 51 mph. There was an unofficial wind gust report of 96 mph recorded by a spotter at Maria Hill in St. Croix.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5423519. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.