Hurricane Fiona nears Bermuda after devastating Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

Hurricane Fiona moved towards Bermuda on Thursday as it left a devastating path of destruction. Dominican Republic And Puerto Ricoofficials said.

The National Hurricane Center in the US said Bermuda was developing into tropical storm conditions around midnight on Friday as the Category 4 storm moved north towards the island’s western coast.

Hurricane conditions were expected in Bermuda overnight, forecasters said. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, the hurricane center said.

While the storm’s center was about 195 miles west of Bermuda, tropical storm-force winds extended 275 miles outward, the agency said. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 115 miles.

A hurricane warning was in effect late Thursday for Bermuda, Prince Edward Island, Isle-de-la-Madeleine, Nova Scotia’s Hubbards to Brule, and Newfoundland’s Parson’s Pond for Francois, according to the hurricane center. .

Britain was expected to see 2 to 4 inches of rain and gusts of up to 75 mph. The heaviest rain in Bermuda is expected between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

“As Hurricane Fiona approaches on Friday as a Category 4, I encourage everyone to prepare appropriately for this storm,” said Bermuda Premier David Burt. said in a statement on Thursday. “Let’s all remember to check and take care of our elders, family and neighbors. Stay safe.”

After passing Bermuda, Fiona will target the Atlantic coast of Canada and possibly make landfall near eastern Nova Scotia on Saturday morning.

Fauna may be vulnerable to a Category 2 storm or extratropical cyclone, but Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are still at risk of significant damage.

The system could reach Quebec and southeastern Labrador by early Sunday. Atlantic Canada will receive 3 to 10 inches of rain, bringing the risk of flooding.

“It’s going to be a very large storm when it makes landfall,” said Bob Robichaud, an emergency preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada. “It’s going to cover a pretty big area.”

The damage Fiona has already left may take weeks, months or even years to repair.

At least 8,708 homes have been damaged or destroyed in the Dominican Republic, while 210,433 people are without power and at least 725,246 are without running water, according to the Center of Emergency Operations.

Much of Puerto Rico was without power Thursday as temperatures neared 100 degrees, prompting an extreme heat warning.

Without power and downed trees on roads, even the highest. The island’s storm-ravaged areas remained challenging..

President Joe Biden said Thursday that he is committed to “100 percent federal funding for debris removal, search and rescue, power and water restoration, shelter and food” in Puerto Rico.

“We will stand with the people of Puerto Rico … until this is done, until we recover,” Biden told reporters after meeting with Governor Cathy Hoechl in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams; Dan Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and — via video conference — Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierlovisi.

Associated Press And Phil Hessel Cooperated.