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All Tropical Storm Warnings for the Virgin Islands have been discontinued as the circulation of Maria has become poorly defined. As a result of the 11 am advisory this morning, the previously imposed curfew in the territory set for tonight has been lifted as has the price freeze on commodity items.
At 11 a.m. today, the poorly defined center was located about 227 miles east southeast of St. John; about 219 miles east of St. Croix near 17.3 degrees north, 61.5 degrees west.
Movement is to the northwest at 15 miles per hour with top winds of 40 miles per hour. Weakening is forecast and Maria could become either a tropical depression or degenerate into a tropical wave later today.
Tropical storm force winds are occurring outward up to 200 miles over the open waters to the northeast of the center, well away from the territory. With the 11 a.m. advisory, none of the major land areas in the Virgin Islands are forecast to receive sustained tropical force winds.
Based on the current forecast track, what is left of the center of circulation will pass some 101 miles to the northeast of St. Croix around 11 pm tonight, 81 miles northeast of St. Thomas at 2am Sunday and 69 miles northeast of St. John also at 2 am Sunday.
While the territory is not forecast to receive sustained tropical storm force winds from Maria, gusty and breezy conditions will prevail across the islands through Sunday night. Rainfall activity will also be noted across the territory from Sunday into Monday as Maria passes to the northeast of the Virgin Islands.
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