On Tuesday, Omar, which is the 15th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 and ends November 30, attained hurricane strength with top winds of 75 mph and is presently heading towards Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

Omar was formed on Tuesday in the eastern Caribbean, following which it threw heavy rains on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao off the coast of Venezuela. Its center was about 315 miles (505 km) south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico at 11 p.m. ET. 

According to the hurricane center, "The storm was moving east-northeast near 6 mph (9 kph), though a turn to the northeast was expected Tuesday night or early Wednesday." In the next 24 hours, Omar was expected to gain strength. 

The maximum sustained winds of Omar were near 75 mph (120 kph). The maximum sustained winds of a category 1 hurricane are at least 74 mph. 

The forecasters added, "Tropical storm-force winds extend outward 90 miles (145 km) from Omar's center."

A warning related to hurricane has been issued to the U.S. Virgin islands and the islands of Vieques and Culebra. Furthermore, St. Martin, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis and other islands have also been provided with the same warnings. Puerto Rico is also on hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning has been issued. 

The hurricane center said, "A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 24 hours."

The center further added, "The storm is generally expected to dump up to 8 inches of rain over portions of the Netherlands Antilles, with 12 inches possible in some areas. Up to 6 inches of rain is possible over extreme northwestern and north-central Venezuela and the Guajira Peninsula, shared by Venezuela and Colombia."

Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands can possibly experience rains of up to 10 inches and life-threatening flash floods and mudslides could be produced by the storm.  

The Hurricane center added, "Also, the storm could produce large swells affecting the west- and south-facing coasts of the Lesser Antilles, of which the Leeward Islands are a part. The swells could cause beach erosion and damage coastal structures."