Puerto Rico bracing for severe wind and extreme rain as Tropical Storm Fiona bares down amid expectations it would grow into a hurricane before striking the U.S. territory’s southern coast Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters predict “historic” levels of rain, expected to produce landslides and heavy flooding, with up to 20 inches forecast in isolated areas.
Fiona was centered 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, late Saturday. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
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A northwestward motion is expected to begin later today and continue through Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will approach Puerto Rico this morning, and move near or over Puerto Rico this afternoon or evening. Fiona will then move near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic tonight and Monday, and near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
- Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra
- The coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo
Frances Viejo
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo
westward to Puerto Plata
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo
westward to Puerto Plata
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
- South coast of the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Caucedo to
Barahona - Turks and Caicos Islands
- Southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long
Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds,
conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
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