Hurricane Fiona: Slowly hammering DR, PR; track & impacts

Puerto Rico remains underwater as Fiona’s rainbands will continue to batter the small Caribbean Island Monday.

Much of southern and southwestern Puerto Rico has received more than 25 inches of rain. Outside of this region, rainfall has also been impressive and catastrophic. In Adjuntas, a municipality just to the northwest of Ponce, 22 inches of rain was recorded. In Sabana Grande, 11.10 inches of rain fell through September 18.

Rivers continue to overflow, and the flood waters have taken out bridges and roads. About 90 percent of customers are still without power.

Fiona made its second landfall around 3:30 a.m. local time in Boca de Yuma in the Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Punta Cana International Airport reported a sustained wind of 51 mph and a gust of 79 mph.

Hurricane Fiona will exit the Dominican Republic Monday afternoon and continue growing in strength. It will likely become a major category hurricane on Tuesday as it moves northeast of Turk and Caicos.

Fiona’s most active side, the right side with respect to direction, will continue to hammer Puerto Rico on Monday. Some heavy rains will also continue to affect the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic. In total, some spots could receive up to 20 inches of rain across the eastern Dominican Republic and up to 30 inches in parts of Puerto Rico.

We will likely talk about Hurricane Fiona all week. A slow northward motion is expected through Wednesday. So for the next 48 to 72 hours, Fiona will move about 500 miles. This puts Fiona at a forward speed of less than 10 mph. This will continue to bring some heavy rounds of showers across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Fiona will remain about 600 miles east of Florida. On Thursday, Fiona will pick up speed and this precisely will be Bermuda’s silver lining. Even though its heaviest side will likely barrel over Bermuda, it will be going much faster.

The short answer is no. There will be increasing seas and the risk of rip currents, but the system will not make an unexpected turn or directly impact the U.S. East coast. There is currently a weak cold front that is helping the system make the north turn and there is a stronger cold front making a move southward midweek, which will keep Fiona well to the east of the contiguous U.S. and turning further into the central Atlantic.

We will monitor the evolution closely and bring you prompt updates throughout the week.