Storm Fiona has the potential to become a hurricane when it makes landfall in southern Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The passage of the storm will bring rain of one foot (30 centimeters in the east) in Puerto Rico and 16 inches (41 centimeters) in the east of the Dominican Republic.
The NHS issued a hurricane watch for Puerto Rico including the areas of Vieques and Culebra as well as the southern Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands.
Floods and landslides are warned, according to The Associated Press news agency.
Until now Fiona maintains a wind intensity of 48 miles per hour, so it is not yet classified as a hurricane.
Tropical Storm Fiona as it passes through the Caribbean on September 17, 2022. NOAA
"Some strengthening is forecast and Fiona could be near hurricane strength when it moves near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic this weekend," the San Juan-based National Hurricane Center said.
The intensity of the winds could reach 85 miles per hour and waves of 15 feet are also forecast.
Two tropical storms threaten the Caribbean and the Mexican Pacific coast
Sept.
17, 202202:34
On the Pacific Coast, Lester was expected to remain a tropical storm until reaching the Mexican coast on Saturday, but forecasters warned of the danger of heavy rain.
[Tropical Storm Fiona threatens with powerful winds. This is how Puerto Rico prepares]
A tropical storm warning was lifted from Puerto Escondido to Zihuatanejo.
The hurricane center said Lester could drop 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of rain on the coasts of the upper state of Guerrero and the state of Michoacán.
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