Subtropical Storm Olga formed near the Virgin islands on Monday night, and has tracked along the northern coast of Puerto Rico overnight Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Olga is moving to the west at 17 mph and packing winds of 45 mph.

Tropical storm-force winds and squalls of tropical downpours are likely across the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. A flood watch is in effect for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern side of the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm watch for the southern side.

Waves of heavy rain have been invading the island of Puerto Rico and significant flooding is becoming more and more likely. High waves, on the order of 10 to 20 feet, will also impact the north shore of Puerto Rico.

After it's passage just north of Puerto Rico, Olga will likely produce the same exact impacts on the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Olga, the fifteenth named system of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, formed near the Virgin islands on Monday night and made landfall just south of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic early Tuesday afternoon. The center continues to move across the Dominican Republic and eventually Haiti.

On Tuesday evening, a reconnaissance plane found the strongest winds associated with Olga are located at the center of the storm suggesting that it has transitioned to a tropical system. The plane also discovered that Olga is stronger with winds now clocked at 60 mph. It is moving to the west and will remain over land for the next 24 hours.

Even though winds have increased, heavy rainfall is still the main threat form Olga. The tropical downpours are moving away from Puerto Rico but not before about 4 to 8 inches of rain (locally 12" in some spots) fell over the island. A flood watch is still in effect through Tuesday evening. There are reports of rivers overflowing their banks, water over roadways, and a few mudslides.

It is very likely that both the Dominican Republic and Haiti will have to deal with the same type of heavy rains that Puerto Rico endured with rain totals in the 4 to 8 inch range. Some locations may near 10 inches of total rainfall. Life-threatening mudslides and flash flooding is likely through Wednesday over Hispaniola.

With westerly upper-air shear increasing and Olga's interaction with land, the tropical storm is expected to deteriorate within the next 24 to 36 hours.

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