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 rain forecast from Windy.com Friday morning.
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!
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.
Additional hotel rooms are currently being constructed at the Wharfside Hotel, and the way they are doing it is quite interesting.
Large containers and a giant crane arrived in Cruz Bay yesterday, as part of the final hotel addition. The rooms are prefabricated and made of steel by the Nuconic company, which is based in Poland. It appears that the rooms have come completely assembled and simply need to be put in place. And for those of you who are familiar with Cruz Bay’s narrow streets, you know that will be a feat in itself.
Traffic was stopped frequently yesterday as the rooms arrived, and at one point WAPA – the island’s power company – had to hoist up some power lines. People traveling in Cruz Bay can expect some delays while this continues. Check out a few pics and video:
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.
A great property recently hit the MLS. This is one that you’re going to want to check out!
32 Freeman’s Ground is a newly-renovated, one-bedroom concrete home that includes a rare 121 feet of private shoreline in St. John. There aren’t too many homes that are located on the water, so check this one out!
Newly renovated from top to bottom, this masonry cottage has been thoughtfully rebuilt with modern systems, high-end finishes, and everyday comforts. Set on a combined .45-acre parcel, the property includes a rare 121′ of private waterfront, with the waterfront portion consisting of .18 acres zoned W-1.
Ideally located along Rt. 108, you’ll enjoy convenient access to grocery stores, shops, and watersports. The elevated main living level captures water views while sitting comfortably above the road, creating a pleasant sense of separation. Gentle topography offers exceptional usability and excellent potential for future expansion. Check out a few pictures:
Here are some additional highlights:
New Impact rated glass sliding windows
New exterior doors
Roll down hurricane shutters
All new electric wiring and plumbing lines
Whole house surge protector on meter box
New Generac 14kw whole house generator with automatic transfer switch
Two new 100-gallon propane tanks
New Hydro Action Waste Treatment System
New 3-stage water filtration system with two UV bulbs
32 Freeman’s Ground is listed for $890,000. If you are interested or if you would like to learn more about other St. John properties that are currently for sale, please contact me, Jenn Manes, at jenn@explorestj.com, or via text/call at 203-376-3786. I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate.
We’ve got most of the closings now. This list can change at anytime, so please check back often. Also, businesses may alter dates. I will continue to do my best to provide you all with the most up-to-date and accurate information.
1864 The Restaurant: Closing at the end of August; Tentatively reopening early October
Banana Deck: Closing August 16th; Reopening November 1st
Beach Bar: Closed September 14 through September 27th
Blind Donkey: Staying open
Cafe Roma: Closed September 29th through November 2nd-ish
Cap’s Place: Staying Open
Cinnamon Bay Campground & Raintree Cafe: Closed September & October; Food truck will remain open
Coco Jim’s Staying open
Colombo’s: Permanently closed. (Drifter’s is now in its place.)
Cool Desires: Will close mid-September through mid-October
Cruz Bay Landing: Staying open
Dave & Jerry’s: Closed permanently
Dazey’s Bayhouse: Closed September 22nd through October 15th; Will only be open for mornings starting the last week of July
De’ Coal Pot: Staying open, but with reduced hours. Will be open Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed on Sundays for off season.
Downtown Sips: Staying open
Drink: August 7th is its last night, and they plan to hold their annual Drink the Bar Dry party; Reopening on Halloween
Drifter’s (former Colombo’s location): Staying open
Extra Virgin Bistro: Last night is August 14th; Reopening October 27th
Giovanni Gelato and Coffee Shop: Will be closed from August 4th; Reopening on September 29th
Heading East: Staying Open
Hercules Pate: Staying open
Hillside Terrace: Staying Open
High Tide: They will be closed September 21-27. Reopening September 28th.
Inn at Tamarind Court: Hotel will remain open; The restaurant will close for breakfast September 1st and will reopen for breakfast September 22nd. The restaurant will be closed for dinner for the month of September.
The Island Refinery STJ: Lsast night is August 16th; Reopening date TBD
Johnny Lime: Will be offering a broader pizza menu and salads Friday through Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. through mid-October.
Karma: Staying open
La Tapa: Closed September through mid-October
Lime Inn: Last Day is August 14th; First Day Open is October 11th
Lime Out: Last Day is August 14th; First Day Open is October 11th
Little Olive: Closing early September; Reopening late October
Lovango Resort + Beach Club: Closed; Reopening in December
Lovango Rum Bar: Closing September 8th through September 22nd
Love City BBQ: Staying open
Love City Tacos: Will be closed September 13th through September 20th for repairs, maintenance, and a seasonal break.
Maho Crossroads: Staying Open
MidWay Bar & Grill: Staying open
Miss Lucy’s: Closed; Did not reopen for lunch or dinner this season; Thursday Night Open Mic will return this fall. Date TBD.
Morgan’s Mango: Last day open is August 30th; Reopening October 8th
Nella’s: Staying open
North Shore Deli: Will likely close the last two weeks of September
Ocean 362: Closed for the month of September; Reopening in October
Our Market Smoothies: Staying open
P&P’s: Always call ahead
Paulie’s Luncheonette: Staying open
Ronnie’s Pizza: Closing August 7th; Reopening date TBD (probably September-ish)
Sam & Jack’s: Closing the month of September; Reopening October 1st
Shaibu’s: closed starting August 8th; Reopening TBD (probably mid to late September)
Shambles: Will be closed September 1st through September 14th; Reopening September 15th
Sharky’s By the Water: Closed permanently
Skinny Legs: Closing August 8th; Reopening on Halloween
Soggy Dollar Bar: Closing August 26th; Reopening October 7th
Sosa’s Food Truck: Staying Open
St. John Back Bar: Staying Open with Limited Hours in August & September
St. John Provisions: Closing August 1st through mid-October
St. John Scoops: Staying Open
St. John Speakeasy: Closed August 1st through September 30th
Surf Club Cantina: Closing the week of September 20th
Sun Dog Cafe: Staying Open
Tap & Still: Closing two to three weeks starting August 17th
The Grub with Chef Tad: Staying open. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:30am to 3pm
The Longboard: Staying Open
The Parrot Club: Staying open
The Tap Room
The Terrace: Last day is July 31st; Reopening in October. Exact date TBD
The Upstairs Bar: Staying Open
The Windmill Bar: Staying Open
Trunk Bay: Staying open
Uncle Joe’s BBQ: Staying open
VI Wine Shop: Will be offering small plates Monday through Friday through the end of August; September TBD
Woody’s: Undecided
ZoZo’s: Closed until December
I contacted the following business and am waiting to hear back.
Bajo el Sol
Flavorful Delights
Greengo’s
Mooie’s
Please check back for updates.
If you are a restaurant owner or manager, and you would like to update your listing, please email jenn@explorestj.com.
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
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.
A stretch of roadway in Cruz Bay is getting paved this week, and it may slow traffic this week.
The stretch of roadway in front of the car barge entrance is being paved this week. Work began Tuesday morning, and it is expected to be completed by Friday. During this time, the road will be down to one lane, which will undoubtedly slow traffic in the area. Work is expected to occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Give yourself extra time if you are traveling in the area.
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
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.
Saw some soggy donkeys in Coral Bay Monday morning
This story was originally published on April 13, 2026.
It rained today. And then it rained some more. And then it rained even more. We received more than two inches – 2.1 to be exact – out here in Fish Bay over the past 24 hours. That’s a lot! The island needed rain, so a lot of us residents were thrilled to see it pour into our cisterns. The majority of us live off of collected rainwater, so today’s rain was much-welcomed. I planted 11 trees in my yard last week, so I was especially thrilled by today’s rains!
The radar was not looking pretty today!My house received 1.5 inches between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today!
Before I get into the rest of this rain story, I would like to thank my morning tour guests for being some of the best ever. It absolutely down poured several times during this morning’s tour. So much so that I had to wring out my skort while we were checking out Cinnamon Bay. They are National Park enthusiasts, so they smiled the entire day. I cannot thank them enough. It was a great, albeit soggy, island tour today.
Ok, so the weather forecast is showing more rain for the week. The rest of the week doesn’t look like it will be as soggy as today, but we can have more measurable rain. So what do you do on a rainy day in St. John? Well here you go!
Shop, Dine & Drink
The shops and the majority of the restaurants will remain open even if we receive monsoon rains. Mongoose Junction is a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy day. Enjoy a locally crafted beer from The Tap Room, fresh-rolled sushi at 1864, or an ice cream cone or a popsicle over at Scoops or Irie Pops. Looking to shop? I love Sugar Birds and Portico for unique souvenirs, Big Planet, Just Beach, and Lulee for clothing, and Caravan Gallery for jewelry. There are a ton of other great spots at Mongoose, so check out everything while you’re there. When it rains super hard, the gut that runs underneath Mongoose will become a raging river. It’s a pretty neat thing to check out. It was running wild Monday morning!
Grab an umbrella and head over to Wharfside Village. I am fairly certain that The Beach Bar and High Tide will be rocking. There’s great shopping over there too. Check out the St. John Spice Shop, The Little Things, the jewelry stores, and more.
If you have a vehicle, you can head up Centerline Road and check out Shambles or Heading East. Both have ample covered spaces and are great places to grab a bite or enjoy a few cocktails.The Windmill Bar is located up there too, but they close during super hard rains.
Over in Coral Bay? Head to Skinny Legs and join in on the fun. There is a great retail shop there called Mumbo Jumbo, so you can combine some retail therapy with one of Skinny’s famous burgers. Once you’re done, walk across the street and check out Pirate’s Cove or go around the corner to Jolly Dog and Zemi.
Explore the Island
Trunk Bay Monday morning
If you have a vehicle, take a ride around the island. Be careful if it is raining hard because small rocks sometimes fall into the roadway and there can be a lot of water that pools on the roadways. You will definitely need four-wheel drive when it rains very hard. You also have to be mindful of flooding. It flooded today near the tennis courts in Cruz Bay and also in front of Starfish Market. Those are two spots that we see flood a lot.
You can grab a book and sit under the pavilion at Hawksnest, or grab a raincoat and check out some of the island’s rich history. You can explore Catherineberg, Annaberg, or even the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Factory. All are very cool spots, rain or shine. You might even get lucky and catch a donkey in passing.
Catherineberg
Hike to a Waterfall
When it rains hard like today, a waterfall will form at Reef Bay. This is definitely a sneaker or sandals with straps kind of hike, as it will definitely be slippery. The trailhead for the Reef Bay trail is about five miles outside of Cruz Bay and about three miles outside of Coral Bay on Route 10, also known as Centerline Road. The trail is 2.1 miles in each direction if you are going from the road to the ocean, and it is quite steep. There is a spur trail on the right that will lead you to the petroglyphs where the waterfall will form. Pack a bag, bring snacks, bug spray, and plenty of water for this hike.
A small waterfall is likely to form between Cinnamon and Maho bays. The water will flow across the road, so be careful when driving in that area.
A rainy day in St. John can be fun. And you know what they say – a rainy day in St. John is a better than a sunny day at home! Stay dry everyone!
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
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.
