Subtropical Storm Olga Forms
Pastor Dale Morgan
Subtropical Storm Olga Forms*
Tuesday December 11, 2007 4:31 AM
MIAMI (AP) - Subtropical Storm Olga formed over the Virgin Islands on
Monday, 10 days after the Atlantic hurricane season ended, forecasters said.
Olga formed shortly before 9 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said.
The government of the Dominican Republic issued a tropical storm warning
for the northern coast from Cabo Engano westward to Bahio de Manzanillo
at the border with Haiti. A tropical storm watch was issued for the
southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Punta
Palenque southwest of Santo Domingo.
At 10 p.m. the system was centered about 55 miles east of Puerto Rico
and about 300 miles east of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. It
was moving toward the west near 15 mph, movement expected to continue
for the next 24 hours. Forecasters expected the center to be near the
northern coast of Puerto Rico later Monday and near or over the
Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
The storm has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. Some slow
strengthening was possible before the center approached the Dominican
Republic.
``It is unusual since the season does end officially on November 30,''
said meteorologist Hugh Cobb. ``However, in recent years we have seen
quite a few December cyclones.''
Cobb said Olga could strengthen slightly within the next 12 hours, but
then it should weaken.
Forecasters warned it could still produce heavy squalls and near-gale
force winds across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Its heavy rains
also could cause life-threatening flash-floods and mudslides in Puerto
Rico and Hispaniola.
The Atlantic hurricane season that ended Nov. 30 saw 14 named storms,
including six hurricanes.