Virgin Islands government offers a five percent discount on property tax if paid by March 15

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office, which is where you pay your property tax, was busy yesterday. The government’s offer of a 5% discount to those paying up before March 15, seems to be working. If you’re paying at the office, which is probably a good idea (save your receipts), you can count on a wait unless you’re really lucky. Also, despite what it says on the door, the new hours are 9:00 to 4:00 not 9:00 to 5:00.

St. John Weather

We have a wind advisory, which will be in effect until 3;00 Thursday and a high surf advisory in effect from 8:00 am this morning until 8:00 am tomorrow morning.

High temperature is forecast to be in the low 80s. we should also see some rain squalls passing through from time to time, especially during the morning. Winds are from the NNE at 10 – 15 mph (Surf’s up!) Water temperature is 80 degrees and sunset will be at 6:27 pm. The moon will rise at 6:00 pm and will be 99% full.

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Wednesday, March 7

Aqua Bistro – Rascio on Steel Pan- 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336
Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 777-3316
Coconut Coast Studios – St. John Flutes – 5:30-7:00 – 776-6944
Cruz Bay Prime – Samba Combo – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000
Driftwood Dave’s – Paradise People – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Chris Carsel – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
Sun Dog Cafe – Wednesday Night Jam – 7:30-10:00  – 244-9713

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

Invest 91

Can you believe it? We already have a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic. It’s got a name, Invest 91. If it develops into a tropical storm, which is unlikely, it will be named TS Arlene.

Hurricane expert, Dr. Jeff Masters, writes: “A tropical disturbance (91L) near 24N, 63W, midway between the Virgin Islands and Bermuda, is moving north-northwest at about 8 mph. The system’s heavy thunderstorm activity has increased since yesterday, but 91L has …” read more

Squall

There was a promising patch of blue sky peaking through the Tuesday morning cloud cover here on St. John. Within minutes, however, a squall came out of the east producing heavy rains and strong gusty winds.

It’s 6:30 am. The internet is down, I image due to the storms, so I’ll post this later on today hopefully. There’s the sound of heavy rain falling on the metal roof and the distant sounds of thunder. The high winds are blowing water under ten feet of overhang porch roof and into the sliding doors, which due to some design flaw, I guess, allows some of the water to be driven underneath the doors and into the house. Towel time.

Leading Edge

Today’s forecast for St. John from the Weather Underground

“Flash Flood Watch in effect through this evening…

Cloudy with numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs 89 lower elevations ranging to 82 higher elevations. Mainly southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.”

By the way:
Judging from what’s happening outside, I believe we can make that 70% chance of rain into 100%