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The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is closely tracking Tropical Storm Maria which formed earlier today, becoming the 13 named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
At 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Maria was located at 13.0 N, 42.0 W, about 1,305 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Maria is packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, with higher gusts, and is moving westward at 23 miles per hour. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles mainly to the north of the center.
On Wednesday morning, VITEMA Director Elton Lewis convened a conference call with the National Weather Service at San Juan for an update on the track and forecast of this system. According to the National Weather Service, the system is expected to be a significant rain event, with 4 to 6 inches forecasted for the Virgin Islands. Tropical Storm Maria is expected to make to closest approach to the Territory on Saturday night possibly as a category one hurricane. However, this forecast is only preliminary, and a more accurate forecast will be provided on Thursday morning, according the National Weather Service.
Lewis has also initiated contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency- Region 2 leadership, which normally prepositions an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) in the Territory to assist in VITEMA’s response effort.
“We are currently near the peak of the season, so we are expecting to see more activity in the Atlantic,” VITEMA Director Elton Lewis said. “It is extremely important that the community continue to monitor news for updated weather information and to begin to assess their level of preparedness.”
VITEMA will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. VITEMA also encourages individuals to sign up for VI Alert, a free service that provides emergency weather alerts via text message, e-mail and fax. Visit www.VITEMA.gov and click on VI Alert to register.
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