At the least three individuals are dead across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Fiona intensified into the Atlantic’s first major hurricane of the season overnight near the Turks and Caicos Islands, in line with reports.
Hurricane Fiona has been steadily strengthening and will reach Category 4 intensity by early Wednesday because it heads within the direction of Bermuda through the tip of the week.
Even with Fiona pulling farther away from the Caribbean, its outer bands will proceed to provide heavy rain over coastal and eastern sections of the Dominican Republic and isolated portions of Puerto Rico through Tuesday. The FOX Forecast Center warns that these rains could produce additional localized life-threatening flash flooding.
Fiona made two landfalls as a Category 1 hurricane, the primary one Sunday afternoon along the acute southwestern coast of Puerto Rico and the second early Monday within the eastern Dominican Republic.
In Puerto Rico, the town of Ponce clocked a 103-mph wind gust, while within the Dominican Republic, a gust of 98 mph was recorded in Samana at El Catey International Airport. The high winds plunged all of Puerto Rico right into a blackout Sunday as catastrophic flooding unfolded across the US territory.
Where is Hurricane Fiona?
As of early Tuesday, Fiona was a Category 3 hurricane centered near Grand Turk Island and was moving north-northwestward at 10 mph.
Any hurricane that’s rated Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is defined as a major hurricane.
Where are watches and warnings in effect?
A hurricane warning has been issued for the Turks and Caicos. A hurricane warning means sustained winds of at the very least 74 mph are expected.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the southeastern Bahamas. A tropical storm warning means sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph are expected.
What’s the forecast for Hurricane Fiona?
In line with the FOX Forecast Center, the middle of Hurricane Fiona will move near Grand Turk and the opposite eastern Turks and Caicos through Tuesday morning.
Hurricane-force winds (74-plus mph) and heavy rain around the middle of Hurricane Fiona will impact the Turks and Caicos through Tuesday afternoon with a continued risk of life-threatening flooding. Tropical storm-force winds (39-plus mph) and heavy rain from Fiona’s outer rainbands also needs to begin to spread over the southeastern Bahamas later Tuesday morning and last into Tuesday night.
Hurricane Fiona will proceed to strengthen over the subsequent couple of days and is now expected to turn out to be a Category 4 hurricane by early Wednesday. It’s going to move toward the north-northwest through Tuesday before making a northward turn Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Hurricane Fiona could pass very near Bermuda by Thursday night or Friday morning, potentially as a Category 4 hurricane.
Fiona’s high winds may even send large waves toward the US East Coast toward the tip of the week, increasing the danger of life-threatening rip currents along the Atlantic beaches.
How far more rain will Hurricane Fiona produce?
An extra 4 to eight inches of rain is anticipated across the Turks and Caicos Islands as Hurricane Fiona impacts the British overseas territory, posing a continued risk of life-threatening flooding.
Farther north, the southeastern Bahamas are forecast to select up 1 to 4 inches of rain.
Additional rainfall amounts between 1 and 4 inches are also predicted across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, where additional localized life-threatening flash flooding is feasible.
Flood watches remain in effect for all of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands through Tuesday evening.
2022 Atlantic hurricane season off to a slow start
Early to mid-September is the time of the season when sea-surface temperatures are the warmest, upper-level winds loosen up, and drier air is usually not widespread.
Unlike recent lively years, dry air has been more dominant than usual across the eastern parts of the Atlantic Basin, which has stunted the organization and development of tropical cyclones.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season is off to a slow start with only six systems named since June 1. FOX Weather’s Brandy Campbell spoke to experts concerning the combination of the Saharan dust, dry air, and hostile winds which can be keeping the season quiet, surprising many.
August ended with out a single tropical cyclone within the Atlantic Basin for less than the second time within the satellite era.
During a mean yr, nine named storms and 4 hurricanes have typically already formed by now, but up to now in 2022, the tally stands at just six named storms and three hurricanes.
