Tropical Storm Fiona predicts to bring life-threatening flooding and become Hurricane

Caribbean: Tropical Storm Fiona will bring life-threatening flooding to the Caribbean and could become a hurricane near the Bahamas. 

Watches and warnings are up for the Northeastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the US & British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, and Montserrat. Over a foot of rain will be possible in spots. Mudslides and rockslides are possible. Widespread power outages are possible in Puerto Rico.

Fiona will be close to the Dominican Republic and Haiti by the end of the weekend and early next week.

Fiona could strengthen into a hurricane near the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. Florida should continue to monitor the progress of Fiona, along with the rest of the Southeast United States and Bermuda.

This channel is about safety.

Tropical Storm Fiona is once again packing winds of 60 mph after the hurricane hunter found her to be a little stronger.

At 11pm Fiona was located 16.6N 62.2W or about 55 miles WNW of #Guadeloupe. Movement was to the west at 14 mph.

New models are in and they show no substantial change in the tropical storm. Fiona is a fighter as she continues to battle wind shear while she tracks W and has gained a little strength (60mph winds). 

Fiona will pass S of Puerto Rico tomorrow and draw a bead on the Dominican Republic. It will be important to watch how the storm handles the land interaction with Hispaniola. Track models continue to show a NW path for Fiona, taking her near the SE Bahamas next week. She is forecast to then curve N into the Atlantic. 

As of Friday evening, Tropical Storm Fiona is still lopsided and battling shear entering the Caribbean. A positive trend, however, has developed in the models today.

TRACK: Computer models are coming together and have shifted east the past 24 hours, curving the storm away from Southwest Florida next week. A trough will try to split a high into two, showing Fiona a path north. Not 100% set in stone yet, but odds are increasing this will occur.

INTENSITY: Fiona does have hurricane potential. Can’t rule it out in the Caribbean, but the better opportunity will be next week in the Atlantic with the north turn.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla, Saba, St Eustatius, StMaarten, Guadeloupe, St Barthelemy, and St Martin, Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, U.S. Virgin Islands, USVI, British Virgin Islands #BVI

• South coast of the #Dominican Republic from #Cabo Engano westward
• to Cabo Caucedo
• North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to
• Puerto Plata

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Dominica

* South coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo westward to Barahona

The effects of Fiona will be felt throughout the night across the leeward Islands. Expect heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and gusty winds.

Tropical storm force winds extend outwards 140 miles from the center