Fiona Brings Strong Winds, Heavy Rain to TCI

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Hurricane Fiona is still producing strong winds and heavy rains over portions of the Turks & Caicos Islands, as of 6pm Tuesday.

The Department of Meteorology has issued Alert #27 on Hurricane Fiona, noting hurricane force winds, tornadic activity, torrential rainfall with life-threatening flooding and 2 to 4 feet storm surge above normal tide is currently occurring across the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Tropical storm conditions presently occurring across the southeast Bahamas namely: Mayaguana, Inagua, Samana Cay, Acklins and Crooked Island.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the islands of the southeast Bahamas. Included are the islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Samana Cay, Long Cay and Ragged Island.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions could be experienced in the mentioned islands within 36 hours.

At 5pm EDT, the center of hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 22.6 degrees north and longitude 71.8 degrees west, or about 50 miles north of North Caicos Island, or 65 miles east of Mayaguana, or 165 miles northeast of Matthew Town Inagua, or 130 miles east-southeast of Samana Cay, or about 390 miles southeast of Nassau, New Providence.

Fiona is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph. This general motion is expected to continue into tonight, followed by a turn toward the north on Wednesday. A turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected on Thursday.

On the forecasted track, the center of Fiona will gradually move away from the Turks and Caicos Islands tonight and Wednesday, and approach Bermuda late on Thursday.