000 WTNT32 KNHC 200546 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Fiona Intermediate Advisory Number 23A NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072022 200 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2022 ...FIONA BECOMES A MAJOR HURRICANE AS IT APPROACHES THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS... ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING STILL OCCURRING IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... SUMMARY OF 200 AM EDT...0600 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...20.9N 70.8W ABOUT 45 MI...70 KM SSE 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: 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 200 AM EDT (0600 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 20.9 North, longitude 70.8 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 the easternmost Turks and Caicos during the next several hours. Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Fiona is now a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is expected 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). Weather reports relayed by amateur radio indicate that sustained tropical-storm-force winds are occurring over portions of the Turks and Caicos islands. The latest minimum central pressure reported by the Hurricane Hunter aircraft 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 expected in the Turks and Caicos starting in the next several hours. Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area in the Dominican Republic for a few more hours. Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the southeastern Bahamas starting in the next several hours. 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 through today. 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 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 complete advisory at 500 AM EDT. $$ Forecaster Beven