Miami (USA).- The eye of Fionaa hurricane that is strengthening and can cause “catastrophic” flooding in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, is very close to southwestern Puerto Rico, reported the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC, in English).
The hurricane has gained strength and has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (km / h), according to the latest bulletin from the NHC, based in Miami.
Fionathe third cyclone of the Atlantic season, was 40 kilometers southwest of Ponce (Puerto Rico), he details.
The hurricane has “very dangerous winds” that are already affecting Puerto Rico, and are expected to reach the Dominican Republic tonight.
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According to the NHC, the hurricane could produce storm surge flooding of 30 to 90 centimeters on normally dry ground along the eastern and southern coast of Puerto Rico, as well as on the islands of Vieques and Culebra.
Similarly, Fiona could produce 12 to 16 inches of rain, possibly as much as 25 inches over portions of Puerto Rico.
“These rains will pose an extreme risk of life-threatening flooding, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the island,” the NHC said.
Fiona, a category 1 hurricane, out of a total of 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, threatens with torrential rains, flooding, mudslides, storm surge and rip currents.
