Within the last 16 hours there have been numerous reports of coastal damages to the west coast villages (i.e. Pointe Michel, Newtown, Dublanc, Portsmouth, etc) of Dominica due to high sea swells as Hurricane Omar has strengthened into a category 3 Hurricane. As of 5 a.m EDT, the center was located 70 miles N of St. Martin Island.
Omar’s maximum sustained winds are 125 mph near the center and according to Weather.com it’s likely peaked and some weakening should occur in the next 24 hours. Currently, hurricane-force winds extend out about 35 miles from the center.
Minister for Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Hon. Vince Henderson has announced over the Nation radio Station-DBS that there will be no school today and that persons traveling along the west coast of the island should stay home.
