Tropical Storm Watches posted for Puerto Rico/US Virgin Isle

[FWBHurricane]

Statement as of 5:35 PM AST on August 3, 2004


... Tropical Depression Two heading for the Lesser Antilles...

... Watches...
as of 5 PM... a tropical storm watch has been issued for the U.S.
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A tropical storm watch means that
tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours or less.

... Area affected...
this statement recommends actions to be taken by residents and
visitors of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

... Precautionary/preparedness actions...
residents and visitors of the U.S. Virgin Islands Puerto Rico should
begin to make preparations for possible tropical storm conditions
Wednesday night through Thursday. The following information is based
on the latest tropical cyclone forecast from the National Hurricane
Center in Miami. Future forecasts and conditions may change
considerably as this weather scenario evolves.

... Storm information...
at 5 PM AST... tropical depression number two was located near
latitude 13.6 north... longitude 56.6 west... or about... 300 miles
east of the Windward Islands... or about 605 miles southeast
of St Croix or about 645 miles southeast of St Thomas or about 715
miles southeast of San Juan.

The depression was moving west near 23 mph... with this general
motion expected to continue tonight and then to become more west
northwest on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph
... with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast and the depression
could become a tropical storm on Wednesday as it crosses the Lesser
Antilles.

... Wind impacts...
winds associated with the system are expected to increase by
Wednesday evening... reaching tropical storm intensity... and
spreading across the U.S. Virgin Islands... mainly in gusts. Based on
the latest forecast track... the sustained tropical storm force winds
may remain south of St Croix Wednesday night through Thursday
morning. For Puerto Rico... the tropical storm force winds should
begin around midnight Wednesday mainly in gusts along the south half
of the island... with sustained tropical Strom force winds gradually
covering the south and west half of the island by Thursday morning
then exiting western Puerto Rico by mid afternoon. However... keep in
mind that this scenario could change with future forecasts.

... Marine impacts...
surf and tides will increase across the coastal Caribbean waters and
through the Anegada Passage and the adjacent Atlantic through
Wednesday afternoon... where seas may likely reach 8 to 10 feet as
the tropical system passes. Small craft in the U.S. Virgin Islands
should plan to return to Safe Harbor by noon Wednesday and remain in
port through Thursday. Small craft in Puerto Rico should plan to
return to Safe Harbor Wednesday afternoon and remain in port through
Thursday night.

... Rainfall and flash flood potential...
showers and thunderstorms associated with the northern fringes of
tropical depression number two should begin late Wednesday afternoon
across the U.S. Virgin Islands and over Puerto Rico later Wednesday
evening. Locally heavy rains are possible as the center of the
depression passes just south of St Croix and the center approaches
the South Coast of Puerto Rico during the early morning of Thursday.

Rainfall totals of three to six inches are possible across the area
late Wednesday into Thursday with locally higher amounts across The
Interior sections of Puerto Rico. Rapid River rises could occur with
some Rivers exceeding bankfull during Thursday morning.

The next hurricane local statement will be issued around 11:30 PM by
your National Weather Service forecast office in San Juan... Puerto
Rico.

Rm/ss

Additional information on tropical depression number two can be
found in the National Hurricane Center tropical cyclone products and
tropical cyclone marine advisories.

... Or visit the National Weather Service Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands website on the internet at (all lowercase letters).

Http://www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/sju