(CNN) Hurricane Lenny grew stronger Wednesday, with winds nearing 145 mph (230 km/h) as it swept past St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At 10 p.m. EST, the National Hurricane Center said Lenny was located about 70 miles (115 km) west-southwest of St. Maarten in the northeast Caribbean. As Lenny battered St. Croix, the storm ripped off roofs, hurled boats onto shore and knocked out power to 40,000 people in the islands. Torrential rains also caused heavy flooding.