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Virgin Islands National Park
Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Hurricane season runs from June to November when warm tropical waters feed energy to storm systems moving from east to west across the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms bring strong winds, heavy rains, powerful waves, and high tides. These forces cause flooding and erosion, and can dramatically change island ecosystems from mountain forests to coral reefs in a few hours, and it may take many years for an island to recover from storm damage.

National Hurricane Center for the latest tropical weather activity.

Fruits from the Machineel tree that grows along the coastine on St. John.  

Did You Know?
The Machineel tree, found along the coast, produces crab apple-like fruit that is poisonous. While the fruit is deadly [as Columbus’ men reportedly found out in 1493 when visiting the island], even sap from the Machineel tree can cause an irritating skin rash. The tree is also called Death Apple.

Last Updated: December 10, 2008 at 08:08 EST