A weakening Tropical Storm Omar roared out into the Atlantic Ocean Friday after delivering a glancing blow to the U.S. Virgin Islands and pounding the most-populated island of St. Croix, AP reported. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Omar, which at one point was a fierce Category 3 hurricane, shrunk to a tropical storm late Thursday with maximum winds of 70 mph (110 kph). Omar passed between St. Martin and the U.S. and British Virgin Island, knocking down trees, and causing some flooding and minor mudslies. But forecasters said the damage could have been much worse. There were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage, said Mark Walters, director of the disaster management agency for the Caribbean territory.
