SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...22.0N 71.4W
ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM NNW OF GRAND TURK ISLAND
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...961 MB...28.38 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Turks and Caicos
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* 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. Preparations to protect life and property should be nearing completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Fiona.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 22.0 North, longitude 71.4 West. Fiona is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue through today, followed by a turn toward the north tonight or Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will continue to move near the eastern Turks and Caicos during the next few hours, away from those islands by tomorrow, and approach Bermuda late on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Fiona is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km).
The minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 961 mb (28.38 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Hurricane conditions are occurring over portions of the Turks and Caicos, and these conditions should continue for the next few hours.
Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the southeastern Bahamas for the next several hours.
RAINFALL: Fiona is forecast to produce the following rainfall:
British and U.S. Virgin Islands: Additional local 1 to 2 inches over the next 24 hours.
Southern Puerto Rico: Additional local 1 to 4 inches over the next 24 hours. Storm Total 12 to 20 inches with local maximum of 35
inches.
Northern Puerto Rico: Additional local 1 to 2 inches over the next 24 hours. Storm Total 4 to 12 inches with local maximum of 20
inches.
Dominican Republic: Additional 1 to 4 inches with local maximum of 6 inches over the next 24 hours. Storm Total up to 20 inches in the eastern section.
Turks and Caicos: Additional 4 to 8 inches.
Southeast Bahamas: 1 to 4 inches.
Bermuda: 1 to 3 inches.
Heavy rainfall and localized life-threatening flash flooding continues over portions of the Dominican Republic today. Heavy rains around the center of Fiona impacts the Turks and Caicos through this afternoon with continued life-threatening flooding.
Localized additional flash and urban flooding is possible in Puerto Rico.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos through today.
Localized coastal flooding is possible for the Southeastern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds through today.
SURF: Swells generated by Fiona are affecting the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern Bahamas. These swells will continue to spread westward across the southwestern Atlantic toward the central and northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of the United States through midweek. Swells from Fiona are expected to spread across Bermuda later this week. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Forecaster Pasch
