607 WTNT32 KNHC 200852 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Fiona Advisory Number 24 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072022 500 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2022 ...CENTER OF CATEGORY THREE FIONA NEAR GRAND TURK ISLAND... ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING STILL OCCURRING IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...21.3N 70.9W ABOUT 20 MI...30 KM SE OF GRAND TURK ISLAND MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...967 MB...28.56 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Government of the Dominican Republic has discontinued the Hurricane Watch for the Dominican Republic. 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 ---------------------- At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 21.3 North, longitude 70.9 West. Fiona is moving toward the north-northwest near 10 mph (17 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 pass near Grand Turk and the other eastern Turks and Caicos during the next few hours. Maximum sustained winds are 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 estimated minimum central pressure is 967 mb (28.56 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key messages for Hurricane Fiona can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header WTNT42 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT2.shtml. WIND: Hurricane conditions are spreading over the Turks and Caicos at this time, and these conditions should persist through this morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the southeastern Bahamas starting in the next few 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. 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 southern portions of 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. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM EDT. Next complete advisory at 1100 AM EDT. $$ Forecaster Beven