(October 14, 2008)--Tropical Storm Omar strengthened rapidly Tuesday afternoon, reaching near-hurricane strength as it headed for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

As of 4 pm Tuesday, the storm had maximum winds of 70 miles per hour, just a few miles per hour below hurricane force.

Omar was moving east-northeast at 7 miles per hour, and was expected to make a turn to the northeast by Wednesday morning.

Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings were posted for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and the Leeward Islands.

Meteorologists were also monitoring a new tropical depression in the western Caribbean Sea.

Tropical Depression Sixteen was located just off the eastern coast of Honduras Tuesday afternoon, about 60 miles north of the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

If the depression strengthens into a tropical storm, it will be named Paloma.

The storm is forecast to move slowly west along the northern coast of Honduras, bringing very heavy rain that could cause flash floods and mudslides.

Neither Omar nor Tropical Depression Sixteen is expected to have any impact on the United States mainland.