409 WTNT32 KNHC 200249 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Fiona Advisory Number 23 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072022 1100 PM EDT Mon Sep 19 2022 ...CORE OF FIONA EXPECTED TO MOVE NEAR THE EASTERNMOST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TONIGHT OR EARLY TUESDAY... ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING STILL OCCURRING IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...20.6N 70.3W ABOUT 80 MI...130 KM SE OF GRAND TURK ISLAND MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...971 MB...28.68 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 Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Puerto Plata 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 Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. 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 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 EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 20.6 North, longitude 70.3 West. Fiona is moving toward the north-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue through Tuesday, followed by a turn toward the north Tuesday night or Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will pass near easternmost Turks and Caicos late tonight or early Tuesday. Data from both NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and Fiona is forecast to become a major hurricane later tonight or on Tuesday. 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 latest minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance aircraft data is 971 mb (28.68 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 expected in the Turks and Caicos beginning later tonight or early Tuesday. Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area in the Dominican Republic tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the southeastern Bahamas by early Tuesday. RAINFALL: Fiona is forecast to produce the following rainfall: British and U.S. Virgin Islands: Additional 2 to 4 inches. Storm Total up to 10 inches on St. Croix. Southern Puerto Rico: Additional 3 to 6 inches with local maximum of 8 inches. Storm Total 12 to 20 inches with local maximum of over 30 inches. Northern Puerto Rico: Additional 1 to 3 inches with local maximum of 5 inches. Storm Total 4 to 12 inches with local maximum of 20 inches. Northern and Eastern Dominican Republic: Additional 4 to 8 inches with local maximum of 10 inches. Storm Total up to 20 inches in the eastern section. Rest of Dominican Republic and Eastern Haiti: 3 to 6 inches. Turks and Caicos: 4 to 8 inches. Southeast Bahamas: 1 to 3 inches. These rains will continue to produce life-threatening and catastrophic flooding along with mudslides and landslides across Puerto Rico. Life-threatening flash and urban flooding is likely for eastern portions of 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 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos tonight into Tuesday. Storm surge will 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 Dominican Republic. Localized coastal flooding is possible for the Southeastern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds tonight into Tuesday. 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 200 AM EDT. Next complete advisory at 500 AM EDT. $$ Forecaster Brown