Photo: NOAA
(Miami, FL) -- Fiona is now a hurricane as it threatens to dump huge amounts of rain on Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center says Fiona's maximum sustained winds have increased to 80-miles-an-hour with higher gusts. Hurricane Fiona is about 50 miles south of Puerto Rico and moving to the west-northwest at about eight miles an hour.
Forecasters predict the storm could dump up to 24 inches of rain in some parts of the island, leading to dangerous mudslides and flash flooding.
A hurricane watch is in effect for the Dominican Republican, but is discontinued for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT AT 11A EDT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra
* The coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo Frances Viejo
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* North coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to Puerto Plata
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* South coast of the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Caucedo to Barahona
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands