Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for parts of the Leeward Islands as Tropical Storm Fiona continued its march westward Thursday.
"Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the Leeward Islands within the warning area by Friday evening," said the National Hurricane Center. "Tropical storm conditions are possible in portions of the Leeward Islands within the watch area by Friday night."
"Heavy rains from Fiona will reach the northern Leeward Islands Friday afternoon, spreading to the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Saturday into Sunday morning, and reaching eastern Hispaniola Sunday," forecasters added.
In the northern Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, four to six inches are possible with isolated amounts of 10 inches across eastern Puerto Rico. Eastern Hispaniola could see between four to eight inches with isolated amounts up to 12 inches. The NHC says this could produce flooding and isolated mudslides.
"Fiona is expected to move near the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola this weekend and early next week, and watches will likely be issued for some of those areas later today," said the NHC.
The current forecast track keeps Fiona out of the Gulf of Mexico, with the tropical storm making a turn to the north early next week.