The Cuban Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) indicated that it maintains a “close surveillance” on the trajectory and evolution of tropical storm Fiona that is approaching Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, where it is expected to generate torrential rains and landslides this Sunday.
“During today, Fiona has maintained maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts and its central pressure is 1002 hectoPascal,” the specialized center reported this Saturday.
The Cuban Institute of Meteorology also warned of the possibility of it becoming a hurricane “before touching the southern coast of Puerto Rico this Sunday.” The storm moved near the Virgin Islands to the west of Puerto Rican territory on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, to then continue its path towards the Dominican Republic where it will make landfall between the afternoon and evening of this day.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “hurricane conditions” expected in some towns in Puerto Rico this Sunday and for the Dominican Republic on Monday night. “Rainy activity will produce flash flooding and life-threatening housing developments, along with landslides and mud in areas of steep terrain,” the institution said.
“Rain activity will produce flash flooding and life-threatening housing developments, along with landslides.”
Fiona is expected to strengthen as it exits Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, bringing precipitation also over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas by Monday afternoon or early Tuesday.
Insmet announced in May that it expected a “very active” cyclone season in the Atlantic with up to nine potential hurricanes, at least one of which could affect Cuba.
Last hurricane season resulted in 21 named storms, of which seven became hurricanes, and two of them hit Cuba: Elsa and Ida. These left damage to the roofs of houses, agriculture and the electrical system, in addition to felling trees.
The last time a large hurricane affected the Island was in 2017 when Irma crossed the north coast from east to west and left ten dead and material losses officially valued at 13,185 million dollars.
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