TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Fiona made landfall as a category 1 storm Sunday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.
According to the NHC’s 11 p.m. update, Fiona had max sustained winds of 85 mph while moving west-northwest at 10 mph. It made landfall near Punta Tocon at 3:20 p.m. AST.
The NHC said Fiona could bring “catastrophic flooding” and life-threatening mudslides to Puerto Rico. Nearly all of the island was placed under a flash flood warning at 3:15 p.m, according to the National Weather Service in San Juan.
“Parts of Puerto Rico could pick up over 12 inches of rain before skirting the east coast of the Dominican Republic Monday,” meteorologist Eric Stone said. “Fiona will then turn to the north then northeast impacting Bermuda by the end of the work week.”
President Joe Biden declared an emergency crisis for the commonwealth, ordering federal assistance to be sent to help Puerto Rican authorities respond to the potential dangers. The island is expected to see 12 to 18 inches of rain with up to 30 inches possible, especially in the eastern and southern regions.
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
- Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra
- The coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo Frances Viejo
A hurricane watch is in effect for:
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
- Turks and Caicos
- Southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long
- Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- South coast of the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Caucedo to Barahona
