A tropical storm warning remained in effect Tuesday morning for the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands are also under the warning. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
In its 8 a.m. Tuesday update the NHC estimated Tropical Storm Karen to be 75 miles west-southwest of St. Croix, moving to the north at seven miles per hour. Top winds are at 40 miles per hour. On this track, the center of Karen will pass 61 miles west of St. Croix at 11 a.m., and 54 miles west of St. Thomas at 3 p.m.
Tropical storm force winds will affect the territory from noon to 8 p.m. today with sustained winds of 39 miles per hour between noon and 2 p.m.
Karen is expected to bring heavy rainfall, flash floods and mudslides to Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
The rainfall and potential flooding will likely continue on Wednesday even as the center of Karen moves away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the hurricane center reported.
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft passed through the center of the storm shortly after midnight Tuesday and found surface winds of 34 to 35 knots in the southeastern quadrant and central pressure of 1006 mb. Based on the recon and satellite intensity data, the NHC determined Karen had re-strengthened to tropical storm status.