Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A tropical storm that continues to gain strength could become the Atlantic’s third hurricane of the season. As of Saturday, Tropical Storm Fiona has the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to Barahona, and for the north coast from Cabo Engano westward to Cabo Frances Viejo, on alert.
The government of Dominican Republic has issued a tropical storm watch (possible activity within 36 hours) for those areas. A tropical storm warning (possible activity within 48 hours) is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin, Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Tropical Storm Fiona is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). According to the National Hurricane Centre, Fiona is expected to take a turn toward the west-northwest and northwest on Sunday and into Sunday night and is forecast to reach a Category 1 hurricane status by Wednesday.
If Fiona succeeds, she will be the third hurricane in the Atlantic for the 2022 season. While forecasters say it is too early to tell if Fiona will make U.S. landfall, authorities are continuing to track the system as it heads toward the American mainland since it could pose a threat to Florida and the rest of the Southeast coast later in the week.
