Intense hurricane Omar struck the Virgin
Islands as a hurricane at about 01:00 GMT on 16 October. Data supplied
by the US National Hurricane Center suggest that the point of landfall
was near 16.9 N, 65.0 W. Omar brought 1-minute maximum sustained winds
to the region of around 148 km/h (92 mph). Wind gusts in the area may have
been considerably higher.
According to the Saffir-Simpson damage
scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm of Omar's
strength (category 1) at landfall includes:
- Storm surge generally 1.2-1.5 metres
(4-5 feet) above normal.
