Residents of Leeward Islands Brace for Tropical Storm Fiona
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –Residents in the Leeward Islands were on Friday bracing themselves for the passage of Tropical Storm Fiona that is expected to bring heavy rains and maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (mph).
Tropical Storm Fiona east of the Leeward Islands. (Image credit: RAMMB/CIRA/CSU)In Antigua and Barbuda, schools were ordered closed, banks were shutting down operations early and the regional airline, LIAT, said that several destinations within its network will be affected.
“In interest of passengers and crew safety, several flights have been cancelled,” the airline said, adding “passengers are asked to monitor their e -mails and LIAT’s website for updates”.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its latest bulletin said that storm is about 265 miles east south east of the Leeward Islands and that a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten
* Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands
The NHC said that a westward motion with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected through Saturday night or early Sunday, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest later on Sunday.
“On the forecast track, the center of Fiona is expected to move across the Leeward Islands tonight and early Saturday, and move near or just south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late Saturday into Sunday.”
It said data from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts and that some slight strengthening is forecast during the next few days.
“Tropical storm conditions are expected across portions of the northern Leeward Islands within the warning area beginning this evening. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area across the Virgin Islands on Saturday and in Puerto Rico late Saturday or Saturday night.”
Fiona is forecast to produce rainfall of between three and six inches in the Leeward Islands and that “these rains may produce flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain, particularly southern Puerto Rico and eastern Dominican Republic.
“Swells generated by Fiona are affecting the Leeward Islands, and are expected to spread westward to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico today and Saturday. These conditions could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC added.
