OK - I will try this again. When I did this for the Keys, before Hurricane Irma, the webcam was swamped by viewers.

Here is a LIVE webcam from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. You can see the weather deteriorating now. Hurricane Maria is predicted to pass within 10 miles of St. Croix, and on the south side. This is really bad news for the residents of this island.

If the webcam does not work, try coming back in one hour.

Best wishes and prayers for everyone on St. Croix, and in all the islands nearby.

WEBCAM ...

http://www.gotostcroix.com/live/

Jeanette Isabelle: I agree with Pete. MARIA will be a walk in the park for you.

Figure 5 at Maria Headed for ... Puerto Rico, St. Croix shows the latest track estimates and they are well to the east of Florida. Should be no problem for Orlando.

Dr Masters (WUNDERGROUND) has been making the best calls on Maria. He did say more intensification would probably happen after the crossing at Domenica.

IN FACT - Maria is intensifying rapidly. More than anyone could possibly expect. It is very possible that the max wind speeds in this hurricane will exceed Hurricane Irma ... at the time of its greatest strength.

I sure hope that everybody goes to a safe place in St. Croix and Puerto Rico.

Jeanette - this storm is not coming near Orlando. You are OK!!

St Croix got hit by wind gusts above 100 mph. The extent of the damage is not known yet - but it must be very big.

Puerto Rico took the full brunt of the storm. Some cell towers have been torn down. The full extent of damage is not known yet.

Maria is expected to emerge from Puerto Rico as a Cat 2 hurricane (maybe Cat 3), having lost energy over the land. However, the future track is uncertain because the weather is being influenced by Jose - which is far to the north. Therefore, it is still too early to know how Maria will affect the USA. But if Maria does bring rain to the USA - NOT confirmed yet - most likely it will be to the states north of Florida.

If anyone sees news reports from the Virgin Is, or Puerto Rico, please post here.

WUNDERGROUND has an excellent discussion - thanks Dr. Masters.

My wife's cousin spoke with her ex-husband this morning on the island of St. John in the USVI. The satellite phone signal was lost pretty quickly, but he at least confirmed he is alive and well.

Some of these islands are looking at months of work to restore power and other basic utilities. Conditions there will be fairly primitive until then.

The storm damage in Puerto Rico is looking really bad. Not just the SE coast - pretty much everywhere. Still have not seen any pix or reports from St. Croix. It's possible that no-one can get in, or get out (the airport is probably down).

Please post if you see news reports.

Speaking of St. Croix ... Virginia Beach woman chartered plane to ...n on Caribbean

wow. there's a real dog lover!!
seems like it wouldn't be a bad idea to transport kids out of those disaster zones too - ahead of hurricanes.

As I said, my concern is not the hurricane. I just did not want to add a storm to the mix.

By the way, since I am not eating, I'm getting back to my normal weight.

Jeanette Isabelle