Former Tropical Storm Fiona was upgraded to Hurricane Fiona today, with the eye of the storm making landfall on the south-west tip of the island on Sunday afternoon. There, it’s forecast to wreak havoc over the next 48 hours, causing “life-threatening to catastrophic flooding,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan, along with mudslides, rock slides and power outages. electric.
In the US Virgin Islands (USVI), airlines have canceled all flights on September 18 at both USVI airports – Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Louis; Croix and Cyril E. King Airport in St. Louis. Thomas. Both airports will be closed until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, September 19, the USVI Department of Tourism announced on Sunday.
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The US Coast Guard had already closed all USVI seaports, beginning at 10:00 PM on Friday, September 16, and they will remain closed until further notice.
Fiona is currently moving northwest over Puerto Rico, with areas of the storm also hitting the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, where the hurricane is expected to have similar, potentially catastrophic impacts through Monday.
The USVI is already being swept by the outer bands of hurricane-force rain, wind speeds are reaching 45 mph with gusts up to 75 mph, and up to six inches of rain is expected across the islands.
“The National Weather Service has lifted its Hurricane Watch advisory for the US Virgin Islands; however, the Territory remains under a tropical storm warning and flood watch as Fiona, which has strengthened to a hurricane, continues its westward path toward Puerto Rico,” the official USVI tourism website wrote in an advisory this afternoon. .
“While there was no damage or destruction reported on the islands, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is asking residents to stay at home while the storm continues,” the announcement said. “Visitors are encouraged to exercise caution and check with airlines, hotels, rental car companies, tour operators, etc., to determine what actions they plan to take or what policies businesses have in place.”
Joseph Boschulte, USVI Commissioner of Tourism, said, “As the Department of Tourism for the US Virgin Islands, our highest priority is the safety and comfort of our residents and visitors. We advise everyone to take appropriate precautions and stay indoors. We send our warmest thoughts and prayers to our sister islands of Puerto Rico and the BVI.”
“On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will move near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic tonight and Monday, and near or east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) wrote. advisory issued Sunday.
Fiona’s track is expected to turn north-northwest on Tuesday. Therefore, a tropical storm warning is also in effect for the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas, including Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Inaguas, Mayaguana and the Ragged Islands.
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