Question for Locals or recent visitors

[bayer40601]

Last year when we were on STJ about this same time, there was a distinct haze in the air (later explained as sand from the Sahara) which cut down on the distant views. For example, we could not even see STX from our villa just above Pastory.

My question is, is there a haze present on or around STJ now?

[Puddlejumper]

yep, very present. Though it isn't that different to me being from NC. NC has a lot of hazy, hot, and humid days that look the same. There is a satellite enhanced image of the Sahara layer about half way down the page linked here.
http://stormcarib.com/goes.htm
But don't worry. You can still easily get sun... burned!

[b-as-u-r]

DPNR Advisory: Hazy and Milky Skies Over VI
Written by Tradewinds Staff
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Commissioner Robert Mathes of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is advising the public that the hazy and milky skies in the Virgin Islands are a result of both the presence of Saharan dust and ash from the Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat.
The dust reduces visibility and diminishes air quality. The dust from north Africa, a familiar occurrence to the region, is transported westward over the Atlantic and was visible in the Virgin Islands over the weekend.
Also the Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat began erupting around midnight on Sunday, July 20, and ash from that eruption gets entrained in the easterly wind flows with occasional deposits on our shores.
There exists a mixture of both the dust and the ash in the atmosphere, which is mainly present in the eastern Caribbean, explained Orlando Bermudez, General Forecaster at the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Chances are the dust and ash should dissipate by tomorrow evening. The current wind direction is from the southeast at 12 to 17 miles per hour.
For more information contact the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 or 774-3320 or go to www.nasa.gov or http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/TIST.html.

[waterguy]

That dust is a good thing it keeps H's away

[Pia]

Bring on the dust baby

(but it is beautiful today )

Pia

[mbw1024]

based on the web cams it looks to be pouring in STT!

[nothintolose]

Can ya'll push some of that dust this way if it keeps the hurricanes away???

[Pia]

Hey MB

You are right it is pouring over STT but beautiful here - boy do we need some of that rain we are soooo dry - I hear there is an 8 day waiting list for a water delivery right now - almost at a point of having to put our name on it

Pia

[mbw1024]

Hey MB

You are right it is pouring over STT but beautiful here - boy do we need some of that rain we are soooo dry - I hear there is an 8 day waiting list for a water delivery right now - almost at a point of having to put our name on it

Pia

we could use some here too but of course we aren't in your position. I hope some blows your way!

[bayer40601]

Looking at the Cruz Bay webcam right now (3:25 pm) it appears to be pouring in STJ also.

[Pia]

Yeh - it's pouring in Cruz bay nothing in Fish Bay and dry as a bone in Coral Bay (we all get on the phones and find out where it's raining) so the little amount of water in my cistern remains lonley

Pia

[mbw1024]

It seems to have cleared up nicely!

http://www.serendipity.vi/

[mrscaptainjay]

by yesterday evening it was beautiful and so clear you could see St. Croix. Today is the same, clear, light breeze, beautiful.
Deb

[mbw1024]

nice shot Deb!

[pjayer]

Beautiful! Just make sure it stays that way through next week.