SAN JUAN — Tropical Storm Fiona threatened to dump up to 16 inches of rain in parts of Puerto Rico today as forecasters placed it under a hurricane watch and people braced for potential landslides, severe flooding and power outages.
The storm was located 145 miles southeast of St. Croix this morning with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. It was moving west at 13 mph on a path forecast to pass near Puerto Rico. Forecasters warned Fiona could be near hurricane strength when it passes through Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Fiona is expected to swipe past the Dominican Republic on Sunday as a potential hurricane and Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Monday and Tuesday with the threat of extreme rain.
Forecaster issued a hurricane watch for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engaño westward to Cabo Caucedo and for the northern coast from Cabo Engaño westward to Puerto Plata.
In Puerto Rico, authorities opened shelters and closed public beaches, theaters and museums as they urged people to remain indoors.
“It’s time to activate your emergency plan and contact and help your relatives, especially elderly adults who live alone,” said Dr. Gloria Amador, who runs a nonprofit health organization in central Puerto Rico.
By DÁNICA COTO/Associated Press
