Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lester in the eastern Pacific dissipated Saturday afternoon after making landfall to the south of Acapulco on Mexico’s southwestern coast. Life-threatening surf also was possible from Fiona’s winds, forecasters said. Rains of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) were forecast for the Dominican Republic, with up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in places. They also said 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain fell in three hours in the Gros Morne area.įiona, which is the Atlantic hurricane season’s sixth named storm, was predicted to bring 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain in eastern and southern Puerto Rico, with as much as 20 inches (51 centimeters) in isolated spots. On Guadeloupe, authorities said they recorded wind gusts of up to 74 mph (120 kph).
“We’re not saying that the winds aren’t dangerous, but we are preparing for a historic event in terms of rain,” said Ernesto Morales, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Officials said the heavy rains anticipated would be dangerous because the island’s soil is already saturated. “We should not underestimate this storm.”
Pedro Pierluisi said at a news conference in which the lights briefly went out as he spoke, prompting groans and laughs across the island.
“We are already starting to feel its effects,” Puerto Rico Gov. Fiona was expected to become a hurricane before reaching Puerto Rico’s southern coast.
It was moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph) on a path forecast to pass near or over Puerto Rico on Sunday. More than 20 other people were rescued amid heavy wind and rain that left 13,000 customers without power, with the storm tearing up roads, downing trees and destroying at least one bridge.įiona was centered 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, late Saturday and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). The storm already lashed several eastern Caribbean islands, with one death reported in the French territory of Guadeloupe. HAVANA (AP) - Tropical Storm Fiona headed for Puerto Rico on Saturday night, with forecasters warning it likely would grow into a hurricane before hitting on Sunday with extremely heavy rains with the potential to cause landslides, severe flooding and power outages.
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