Hurricane Fiona: Heavy rain, catastrophic flooding continues across Puerto Rico
ORLANDO, Fla. - Portions of the Dominican Republic are bracing for impact as Hurricane Fiona makes it way to the island Monday morning as a category 1 storm.
Hurricane conditions are spreading across portions of the Dominican Republic, as heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding continue across much of Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Fiona first made landfall on the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico Sunday afternoon, hours after strengthening to become a category 1 hurricane. More than a foot of rain is expected, which could cause "catastrophic flooding" to the island, which is also reportedly without power. The NHC said Fiona made landfall, near Punta Tocon, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.
The storm made a second landfall on the southeast side of the Dominican Republic Monday morning.
Fiona is still a cat. 1 hurricane but, intensification is likely as the storm tracks north away from the Islands. Fiona is forecast to become a Cat. 3 major hurricane through midweek.
FOX 35 STORM TEAM HURRICANE CENTER: View latest forecast, Fiona's projected track, and models
Where is Hurricane Fiona?
As of 8 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Fiona is about 35 miles southeast of Samana, Dominican Republic.
Maximum sustained winds are at 90 mph.
Fiona is moving northwest at 8 mph, according to National Hurricane Center. Minimum central pressure is 977 mb.
"On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will move over the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic during the next few hours and emerge over the southwestern Atlantic this afternoon," NHC said in its 8 a.m. advisory Monday.
Fiona is forecast to strengthen during the next few days after the hurricane emerges over the southwestern Atlantic, and Fiona is forecast to become a major hurricane by Wednesday.
WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
Hurricane Warning
- The coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo Frances Viejo
- Turks and Caicos
Hurricane Watch
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
Tropical Storm Warning
- Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
- Southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
Tropical Storm Watch
- South coast of the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Caucedo to Barahona
WHAT IS HURRICANE FIONA'S PROJECTED PATH?
Looking at our exclusive FOX MODEL, the storm will move over eastern Dominican Republic into Monday afternoon with heavy bands lasting through the night.
The center of the hurricane is forecast to pass near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos on Tuesday.
The Island of Bermuda should be watching closely. Rain is a huge threat as tropical downpours soak Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic. Rain amounts in Puerto Rico could exceed two feet when it's all said and done.
You can depend on the FOX 35 Storm Team when it comes to tracking the tropics. Our FOX MODEL updates through the day and as those updates come in, we will share the latest with you!