Tropical Storm Warning for Puerto Rico as Fiona brings heavy rain
Video from a Hurricane Hunters aircraft that aired on Eyewitness News showed the inside of the intensifying storm.
MIAMI (WABC) -- A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as Fiona is expected to strengthen.
Tropical Storm Fiona was forecast to move across the Caribbean's easternmost islands Friday night before slowing to a spot just south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late Saturday and Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Friday's forecast increased the estimated rainfall totals for the affected islands, to as much as a foot in places across eastern and southern Puerto Rico and 16 inches in the eastern Dominican Republic.
That much rain may cause flash floods and mudslides in higher terrain, with coastal flooding and life-threatening surf possible as Fiona's winds blow ashore, the center said.
Video from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters aircraft that aired Friday morning on Eyewitness News showed the inside of the intensifying storm.
WATCH: Hurricane Hunters video from inside Fiona
The Atlantic Hurricane Season's sixth named storm was sustaining top winds of about 50 mph when a Hurricane Hunters plane measured its progress Friday morning, the center said.
Little change in strength is forecast during the next few days.
At 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, Fiona was moving at 14 mph, about 135 miles east of Guadeloupe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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