Tropical Storm Fiona A Flood Threat To Caribbean, Including Puerto Rico

Tropical Storm Fiona is tracking toward the northern Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where it could produce flooding rainfall and strong wind gusts this weekend, before becoming a hurricane next week.

New tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued in the Caribbean.

H​ere's what we know about Fiona's threats to the Caribbean and what the storm could mean down the road for the mainland United States.

Latest Status And Forecast

Fiona is approaching a landfall on Guadaloupe and is beginning to affect the Leeward Islands as the storm moves westward.

O​n this track, Fiona will begin to produce tropical storm force winds in the Leeward islands soon after landfall. Fiona will move near the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola this weekend into early next week.

The storm is fighting unfavorable upper-level winds (wind shear) and dry air, which is preventing it from strengthening. Some intensification is possible this weekend before Fiona likely reaches Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), possibly as a hurricane.

The worst of the rain and gusty winds will arrive on the islands, including Guadeloupe, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, after the center enters the Caribbean since most of the thunderstorm activity is being blown eastward.

A​fter that, uncertainty grows because of that possible land interaction, but some intensification is expected once Fiona reaches the waters north of Hispaniola.

C​aribbean Threats

T​ropical storm warnings have now been issued for the British Virgin Islands, and continue for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within 36 hours. In the southern Leeward Islands, this wind will arrive soon.

Tropical storm watches have recently been issued for eastern portions of Hispaniola and remain in effect for Dominica. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

Areas from the Leeward Islands to Puerto Rico to eastern Hispaniola to the Turks and Caicos could see r​ain totals of 3 to 10 inches (locally higher) from Fiona. That heavy rain could trigger dangerous flooding and mudslides this weekend into early next week, particularly over mountainous terrain.