Though forecasters are predicting “adverse weather conditions” until Friday morning and the territory remained on tropical storm warning, Tropical Storm Erika had yet to arrive in the Virgin Islands by noon on Thursday.
The storm, however, caused extensive damage when it passed through Dominica overnight, with the Antigua Meteorological Service reporting that the island got at least six inches of rain in six hours.
The resulting floods triggered landslides that destroyed at least 20 homes in the country, and at least six people are missing, according to the Associated Press.
Forecasters are no longer predicting a direct hit for the VI, but the storm is projected to pass near the territory later Thursday.
“Heavy showers and storms are likely to affect the Virgin Islands later today,” according to the Department of Disaster Management. “The showers and storms could result in localised flooding.”
A Thursday morning report from the Department of Disaster Management described Erika as being 146 miles southeast of the VI and moving west at 16 miles per hour.
Photos of flooding and other damage in Dominica continue to be posted on social media, some of which have been reposted by DDM.
{fcomment}