MIAMI (AFP) — Tropical Storm Omar gained near-hurricane strength Tuesday swirling off the northern coast of Venezuela on a path toward the Leeward islands just east of Puerto Rico, the National Hurricane Center reported.
At 2100 GMT the center of Omar was located some 195 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, and about 550 kilometers (345 miles) southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, capital of the crowded US Caribbean commonwealth.
The storm, which packed maximum sustained winds of near 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour, was on a northeastern track churning forward about 11 kilometers (seven miles) per hour.
"Additional strengthening is forecast ... and Omar could become a hurricane later (Tuesday) or on Wednesday," the NHC warned.
On the forecast track, the center of Omar is expected to move over or near the northern Leeward Islands -- just east of Puerto Rico -- by late Wednesday, the NHC said.
Authorities issued a hurricane and tropical storm watch for Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, tiny Dutch St. Maartin/French St. Martin -- the largest air hub in the Caribbean after Puerto Rico -- and the rich-and-famous hotspot French territory of St. Barthelemy.
The storm was already dumping rain across far northwestern and north-central Venezuela, where it could produce total rainfall of up to 15 centimeters (six inches), the NHC said.
Rainfall of 12 to 25 centimeters (five to 10 inches), with maximum amounts of up to 51 centimeters (20 inches), "will be possible across Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands, especially on Wednesday," the Hurricane Center said.
"These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," it warned.
Large swells produced by Omar "could cause beach erosion and damage to coastal structures" on the west and south-facing coasts of all of the islands of the Lesser Antilles, the NHC said.
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