Tropical Storm Fiona forms in Atlantic, forecasters watch new disturbance

Tropical Storm Fiona formed late Wednesday, becoming the year’s sixth named storm of the season.

Forecasters also are now watching a new disturbance located midway between Africa’s west coast and the Lesser Antilles, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. update Thursday.

Fiona was about 385 miles east of Leeward Islands, moving 14 mph west, according to the 8 p.m. update. The storm has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph, with higher gusts, according to data from a hurricane hunter plane that flew over the storm.

Fiona’s strength is not expected to change in the next few days, the hurricane center said.

The storm is expected to continue moving west over the next few days, and it is expected to slow down a bit through Saturday night, forecasters said. The advisory said Fiona could turn west-northwest Sunday. Most models show the storm turning north before it reaches the east coast of the United States. Though some have the storm’s path moving toward Florida’s east coast.

Forecasters expect Fiona to move through the Leeward Islands late Friday and toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend. A tropical storm watch was issued in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Thursday afternoon. Forecasters expect to see tropical storm conditions across portions of the northern Leeward Islands starting Friday night.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla. And a tropical storm watch was in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.

Heavy rains in the northern Leeward Islands and eastern Hispaniola could produce flash and urban flooding, the hurricane center said.

Forecasters say coastal flooding also is possible in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico when the storm surge from Fiona arrives Saturday and into Sunday.

Dangerous swells created by Fiona could affect the northern Leeward Islands by early Friday, the advisory said. Those swells will spread to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Friday and Saturday, the hurricane center said.

Forecasters said moderate wind shear, mostly out of the west, is expected to continue through Fiona’s forecasting period.

“That in itself should suppress significant strengthening, but it may not be enough to prevent any strengthening at all,” The National Hurricane Center said.

The tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and is expected to turn north over the weekend and into early next week, forecasters say. The hurricane center said the system could have some slow development when it makes the anticipated turn.

The system is given a near-zero chance of development in the next 48 hours and a 20% chance of development in the next five days.

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