Residents of The Virgin Islands, I trust that you have been following the updates on Danny and like I am, you are thankful that the system has been now been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Dear Residents and Visitors,

As you are aware Hurricane Danny is approaching the Virgin Islands, and while it is still more than one thousand miles south east of the Territory, forecasters are predicting that we would be impacted by tropical force winds by Monday or Tuesday.

Residents of The Virgin Islands, by now you would be aware that Danny has been upgraded to Category 3 Hurricane. As a result, I have authorised the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre at Level 2, considering that the Territory will feel some impact from this system by Monday or Tuesday. 

LOCATION: 14.3 degrees north, 48.6 degrees west
MOVEMENT: WEST-NORTH WEST, NEAR 10 MPH 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 115 MPH

Hurricane Danny has been upgraded to Category 3.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunter aircraft which investigated Danny this afternoon has indicated that it is a major hurricane.

Danny’s latest position was recorded as 14.3 degrees north, 48.6 degrees west. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 115 miles per hours with higher gusts.

LOCATION: 14.0 degrees north, 48.2 degrees west
DISTANCE: ABOUT 1146 MILES SOUTH EAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 
MOVEMENT: WEST-NORTH WEST, NEAR 10 MPH 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 105 MPH

At 5:00 a.m. the centre of Hurricane Danny was located near latitude 13.7 degrees north, longitude 47.4degrees west. Danny is moving towards the west near 10miles per hour (mph) and a track to west to the west-northwest is expected during the next 48 hours.

The Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services Department is encouraging the community to take appropriate measures in protecting their homes and buildings from structural fires. 

The Town and Country Planning Department is advising all contractors and developers to secure their construction sites as soon as possible in preparation for Hurricane Danny. The Department of Disaster Management is expecting the hurricane to impact the Virgin Islands early next week with the potential for heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds. 

At 11:00 a.m., the centre of Hurricane Danny was located near latitude 12.5 degrees north, longitude 44.8 degrees west. Danny is moving toward the west near 12 miles per hour (mph). Movement is to the West North-West and is expected to continue for a couple of days.

Residents of The Virgin Islands, we have been blessed with a very quiet Atlantic hurricane season but as you are aware, we now face potential impact from the first system to affect the Caribbean this year.