Friday, August 28th 10:30 a.m.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed yesterday, and it is currently headed toward St. John. But there is no reason to worry, as Dolly looks like she will fizzle out before arriving in the Virgin Islands. If the current forecast holds true, Tropical Storm Dolly will be downgraded to a tropical depression by the time it arrives in the Territory this Sunday. This means that St. John will receive much-needed rain and very little wind.
St. John, and the Virgin Islands as a whole, is in the midst of an extreme drought. The island is dry, brown and crunchy looking. We desperately need rain, so Dolly is somewhat of a blessing. According to Windy.com, it looks like we could get almost an inch-and-a-half of rain between Monday and Tuesday. Fingers crossed that happens.
The island is extremely quiet at the moment, but for those of you who are on island, here are a few things for you to do in the rain.
- Check out the shops at Mongoose Junction. When it rains hard, the gut that runs through Mongoose will turn into a river. It’s a cool site to check out. You can also stop by The Tap Room, Sun Dog Cafe, Greengo’s and Scoop’s. They all remain open during off-season.
- Enjoy a few daytime drinks on the beach. The Beach Bar, High Tide and Karma remain open.
- Visit some of the island’s historic sites. Annaberg, Cinnamon Bay and Catherineberg are just a few historical places that are very interesting to check out.
Things to be aware of:
- If it does rain hard, driving will be tricky. You will need four wheel drive to get up some of the island’s steep hills. Also, be mindful of the small rocks and debris that may come off of the hillsides and into the road.
- Beaches can possibly be murky, so you will want to avoid swimming even after the rain passes. I see this most often at Maho Bay, specifically the turtle side (to the left if looking at the water). The murkiness is caused by runoff.
Want to know exactly what’s open at the moment? Check out Explore STJ’s seasonal closing list at www.explorestj.com/closings.
Explore STJ Island Tours reopens for the season September 7th!
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour
See the island of St. John with a longtime resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.