000 WTNT32 KNHC 190254 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Fiona Advisory Number 19 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072022 1100 PM AST Sun Sep 18 2022 ...EYE OF FIONA NEARING THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS MUCH OF PUERTO RICO... SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...18.0N 68.1W ABOUT 45 MI...75 KM SSE OF PUNTA CANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...982 MB...29.00 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The government of the Bahamas has changed the Tropical Storm Warning for the Turks and Caicos to a Hurricane Warning. The Tropical Storm Warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands has been discontinued. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: 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 * Turks and Caicos 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... * North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata * 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 A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. 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 in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 1100 PM AST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 18.0 North, longitude 68.1 West. Fiona is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A northwestward motion is forecast to begin overnight and continue through Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will move over the eastern portions of the Dominican Republic tonight and Monday, and near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday. Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). A wind gust of 58 mph (93 km/h) was recently measured at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The estimated minimum central pressure is 982 mb (29.00 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 on portions of Puerto Rico and will likely continue until Monday morning. Hurricane conditions are expected in portions of the eastern Dominican Republic later tonight and Monday, and in the Turks and Caicos on Tuesday. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area in the Dominican Republic late tonight and Monday. Tropical storm conditions will continue to spread over portions of the Dominican Republic within the warning areas through Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the southeastern Bahamas by early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible across the watch area in the Dominican Republic tonight and Monday. RAINFALL: Fiona is forecast to produce the following rainfall: Leeward Islands: Additional 2 inches or less. British and U.S. Virgin Islands: 4 to 6 inches, maximum of 10 inches on St. Croix. Puerto Rico: 12 to 20 inches with local maximum of 30 inches, particularly across eastern and southern Puerto Rico. Northern and Eastern Dominican Republic: 4 to 8 inches with local maximum 12 inches, particularly along the northeast coast. Rest of Dominican Republic and Haiti: 1 to 3 inches. Turks and Caicos: 3 to 6 inches. Southeast Bahamas: 1 to 3 inches. These rains will continue to produce life-threatening and catastrophic flash and urban flooding across Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic, along with mudslides and landslides in areas of higher terrain. 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. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas in areas of onshore winds if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico to Guayama, Puerto Rico...1 to 2 ft Localized coastal flooding is also possible elsewhere in Puerto Rico. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the Dominican Republic. Localized coastal flooding will be possible along the coasts of the Turks and Caicos in areas of onshore winds Monday night into Tuesday. SURF: Swells generated by Fiona are affecting the Leeward Islands, the northern Windward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern Bahamas. These conditions could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 200 AM AST. Next complete advisory at 500 AM AST. $$ Forecaster Brown