Hurricane Omar to hit Puerto Rico & USVI at Cat. 2

Reuters ^ | 10/15/08 | John Marino

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Hurricane Omar strengthened on Wednesday as it bore down on Puerto Rico and the small islands of the northeastern Caribbean, and could be a "major" storm by the time it reaches them, U.S. forecasters said.

The 15th tropical cyclone of a busy Atlantic hurricane season formed north of the Dutch island of Curacao on Tuesday, briefly preventing Venezuela from loading tankers with crude oil and knocking out power at the OPEC nation's 200,000 barrel-per-day Puerto La Cruz refinery.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted Omar would grow into a Category 2 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity before reaching the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands over the next day or so.

"It also isn't out of the question that Omar could achieve major hurricane status just before the cyclone reaches the northern Leeward islands," the Miami-based center said. Major hurricanes are those that rank Category 3 and higher and are considered the most dangerous.

In the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, residents flocked to supermarkets to stock up on drinking water, canned goods and other supplies.

San Juan resident Gladys Rivera, 40, hit the gas station early on Wednesday. "I did not want to be stuck at the end of the line this afternoon," she said.

Local National Weather Service director Israel Matos said there were fears the storm would affect the same areas hardest hit by heavy rains from a tropical disturbance three weeks ago, when 30 inches of rain caused severe flooding.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

I'm not real sure but here is another look at it

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

That’s weird. It looks like it could be dragged into Omar, but it looks like a stand-alone system of its own.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Another look.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS,NN...

[Elle Bee]

here's hoping Omar remains a fish storm

.

[buickmackane]

Thanks, I appreciate the ping!

[DvdMom]

Hurricane Omar is bearing down on the islands of the eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, home to one of the world’s largest oil refineries.

The Hurricane Center reports that Omar has become a category 3 hurricane as it passes St. Croix. The latest aircraft reconnaissance has reported winds of 115 mph associated with Omar, making it a Category 3 hurricane.

[cll]

Hi all,

As you may have seen, our Blessed island has been spared once more (although not by much).

I just got back from a trip. NN, I saw the Margaret Todd but it was too damn cold to spend the morning on the deck of a boat. We took the trolley instead. What a beautiful place!

Regards,

cll