Fiona strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane as storm heads toward Puerto Rico

According to the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center, Fiona has become a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph and gusts of up to 100 mph as it churns in the Caribbean approximately 50 miles south of Puerto Rico, posing a concern of flooding and mudslides.

The effects of the storm are already being felt: The vice president of the territory's environmental office claimed Basse-Terre in the French territory of Guadeloupe had been destroyed by flooding and that at least one death had been recorded there. Additionally, the National Weather Service reported that flash flooding has started in Puerto Rico, where more than 470,000 customers were without power as of noon ET on Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us.

According to the hurricane center, the third hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is advancing on Puerto Rico south of the city of Ponce. While circumstances are predicted to worsen during Sunday afternoon and evening as Fiona comes close to or over the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, winds are anticipated to pick up around the area's nearby shoreline.

Puerto Rico might be skirted by Fiona's core, which would prevent a typical "landfall." The storm's effects are still being felt, though.

The hurricane center predicted that Fiona would continue to strengthen over the next 48 hours when it passed by Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the southwest Atlantic Ocean. In addition to parts of the eastern Dominican Republic tonight and Monday, hurricane conditions are anticipated for Puerto Rico today.

Fiona strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane as storm heads toward Puerto Rico

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for south and east Puerto Rico, including Ponce and Yabucoa, through at least mid-afternoon on Sunday, warning of life-threatening to catastrophic flooding. According to the agency, flooding began after 1 to 2 inches of rain had reportedly fallen.

Wide areas of Puerto Rico are likely to see 12 to 16 inches of extremely heavy rain, with the majority of that rain falling on Sunday. Isolated areas in southern and eastern Puerto Rico may have up to 25 inches of rain, according to the hurricane center.

The Dominican Republic's northern and eastern regions are also expected to receive 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals of up to 12 inches likely.

The hurricane center predicted that the rains will cause "life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding across Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic, as well as mudslides and landslides in parts of higher terrain."

Authorities have already responded to one such landslide: Around 8 p.m. on Saturday, emergency personnel responded to a landslide. Fire and public safety officials claim that ET occurred at an apartment building in Guaynabo. No injuries were initially reported.

Another danger is storm surge, which could cause water levels to rise by up to three feet above normal tide levels in the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, where onshore winds will be highest.

The eastern Dominican Republic, from Cabo Caused to Cabo Frances Viejo, as well as Puerto Rico, the islands of Vieques and Culebra, were subsequently added to the hurricane warning, which indicates that hurricane conditions are predicted. A hurricane watch is in effect for the US Virgin Islands and the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo west to Puerto Plata, which means a storm might form there within the next 48 hours.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal assets will be made available for emergency response and disaster relief activities after President Joe Biden authorized an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico on Sunday morning.

Once the storm passes between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the danger won't go away. Fiona is predicted to continue to strengthen as it moves east of the Bahamas and into Bermuda, where it could become a major hurricane by Wednesday.

The hurricane center predicted that Fiona would become the first significant storm of this Atlantic season in a few days.