617 WTNT32 KNHC 202356 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Fiona Intermediate Advisory Number 26A NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072022 800 PM EDT Tue Sep 20 2022 ...NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FINDS FIONA STRENGTHENING... ...FIONA STILL PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS OVER PORTIONS OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS... SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...22.9N 71.7W ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM N OF NORTH CAICOS ISLAND ABOUT 775 MI...1245 KM SW OF BERMUDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 335 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. 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 Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Bermuda A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 22.9 North, longitude 71.7 West. Fiona is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue tonight, followed by a turn toward the north on Wednesday. A turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected on Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will gradually move away from the Turks and Caicos tonight and Wednesday, and approach Bermuda late on Thursday. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph (205 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 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km). The latest minimum central pressure reported by the NOAA reconnaissance aircraft is 951 mb (28.08 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: Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are occurring over portions of Turks and Caicos and these conditions should continue for the next few hours. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the southeastern Bahamas for the next several hours. Tropical storm conditions could reach Bermuda by late Thursday or early Friday. RAINFALL: Fiona is forecast to produce the following rainfall: British and U.S. Virgin Islands: Up to an additional local 1 to 2 inches. Puerto Rico: Up to an additional local 1 to 2 inches. Storm Total 12 to 20 inches with local maximum of 35 inches. Dominican Republic: Up to an additional local 1 to 2 inches. Storm Total up to 20 inches in the eastern section. Turks and Caicos: Additional 2 to 4 inches with storm totals of 5 to 10 inches. Southeast Bahamas: 1 to 4 inches. Bermuda: 1 to 3 inches. Heavy rains around the center of Fiona will impact the Turks and Caicos through this evening with continued life-threatening flooding. Localized additional flash and urban flooding is possible in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. 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 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos through this evening. Localized coastal flooding is possible for the Southeastern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds through this evening. SURF: Swells generated by Fiona are affecting the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern and central Bahamas. These swells will continue to spread westward across the southwestern Atlantic toward the northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of the United States during the next day or two. Swells from Fiona are expected to reach Bermuda by early Thursday. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT. $$ Forecaster Brown