Tropical Storm Fiona is expected to strengthen as it moves near the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic this weekend – and could be near hurricane strength as it nears the latter two, forecasters say.   

  Hurricane watches were issued Saturday for Puerto Rico and parts of the Dominican Republic to reflect forecasters’ suspicions they could see hurricane conditions — sustained winds of at least 74 mph — sometime this weekend.   

  “Fiona could be near hurricane strength as it moves near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic this weekend” and could reach hurricane status itself before reaching the Dominican Republic early Monday, the National Hurricane Center said early on Saturday.   

  Fiona, having pounded Guadeloupe and other northeastern Caribbean islands with heavy rain and strong winds on Friday and early Saturday, was in the central Caribbean about 145 miles southeast of St.  Croix of the US Virgin Islands from 8 a.m.  ET Saturday, the NHC said.   

  It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph – less than the 74 mph threshold for a Category 1 hurricane, though strengthening is expected as the weekend progresses.   

  The center of Fiona is expected to move near or just south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday and Sunday and approach the southern or eastern coast of the Dominican Republic on Sunday night and Monday, the hurricane center said.   

  Tropical storm conditions – including winds of at least 39 mph – were expected to reach the US and British Virgin Islands by Saturday morning, hit Puerto Rico on Saturday afternoon and evening and reach parts of the Dominican Republic on Sunday , according to the center of the hurricane.   

  Fiona became a tropical storm over the Atlantic on Wednesday before entering the eastern Caribbean on Friday.   
    CNN Weather

  Fiona’s heavy rainfall could lead to flooding and mudslides this weekend.   

  “These rains are likely to cause flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides over areas of higher ground, particularly in southern and eastern Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic,” the hurricane center said.   

  Localized coastal flooding is also possible elsewhere in Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the hurricane center.   
    CNN Weather

  Here’s how much rain is expected at each location, according to the hurricane center:   

  • The Leeward Islands, including Guadeloupe, and the North Windward Islands: 2-4 inches on top of what they already received.   

  • British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: 4-6 inches, with isolated areas of 10 inches possible.   

  • Puerto Rico: 5-10 inches, with strong isolated areas of 16 inches.   

  • Dominican Republic: 4-8 inches, with possible isolated areas of 12 inches.  especially on the east coast.   

  • Haiti: 1-3 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 4 inches.   

  • Turks and Caicos: 4-10 inches.   

  This is the first time in more than three years that a hurricane warning or warning has been issued in Puerto Rico.  The last time was in August 2019 when Hurricane Dorian passed the island as a Category 1 storm.   

  Few tropical storms have passed the island since then, but Dorian was the last hurricane-strength storm to pass within 50 miles, CNN forecasters said.