581  
WTCA82 TJSJ 190915  
HLSSJU  
PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-191715-  
 
HURRICANE FIONA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 20  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR AL072022  
515 AM AST MON SEP 19 2022  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS PUERTO RICO AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS  
 
**HEAVY RAIN FROM FIONA CONTINUES TO AFFECT PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S.  
VIRGIN ISLANDS**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED AND THE HURRICANE  
WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR CENTRAL INTERIOR, CULEBRA,  
EASTERN INTERIOR, MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY, NORTH CENTRAL,  
NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, PONCE AND VICINITY, SAN JUAN AND  
VICINITY, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, VIEQUES, AND WESTERN INTERIOR  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL INTERIOR,  
CULEBRA, EASTERN INTERIOR, MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY, NORTH  
CENTRAL, NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, PONCE AND VICINITY, SAN JUAN AND  
VICINITY, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, VIEQUES, AND WESTERN INTERIOR  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 170 MILES WEST OF SAN JUAN PR OR ABOUT 100 MILES WEST OF  
MAYAGUEZ PR  
- 18.5N 68.6W  
- STORM INTENSITY 90 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 310 DEGREES AT 8 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE FIONA IS NOW OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.  
HOWEVER, FIONA'S RAIN BANDS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT PUERTO RICO AND THE  
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. TORRENTIAL RAINFALLS CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE  
TERRITORY, CREATING CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOOD CONDITIONS, RIVERS  
OVERFLOWING AND MUDSLIDES. WIND DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPORTED, ESPECIALLY  
ALONG WESTERN, SOUTHERN AND THE INTERIOR OF PUERTO RICO. A TROPICAL  
STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR PUERTO RICO, AS WELL AS FOR THE LOCAL  
WATERS. RAINFALL BANDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA TODAY, AND THE  
TRAILING MOISTURE LASTING ALL THE WAY INTO WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL LIKELY  
WORSEN THE ONGOING FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES.  
 
DETERIORATED, HAZARDOUS MARINE AND COASTAL CONDITIONS ARE ALSO  
ANTICIPATED. SEAS UP TO 18 FEET ARE EXPECTED, LASTING THROUGHOUT THE  
DAY. WINDS OVER THE SEAS WILL BE AROUND 30 AND 50 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP  
TO 70 KNOTS. ISOLATED COASTAL FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY  
ACROSS SOUTHWEST PUERTO RICO.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS  
THE REGION. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD WATERS  
HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS  
INCLUDE:  
- EXTREME RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT NUMEROUS EVACUATIONS AND  
RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY OVERWHELMINGLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS  
IN MANY PLACES WITH DEEP MOVING WATER. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS,  
CANALS, ARROYOS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME RAGING RIVERS. IN  
MOUNTAIN AREAS, DEADLY RUNOFF MAY RAGE DOWN VALLEYS WHILE  
INCREASING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES. FLOOD  
CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME STRESSED.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER NUMEROUS STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE  
COMMUNITIES, SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHED  
AWAY. NUMEROUS PLACES WHERE FLOOD WATERS MAY COVER ESCAPE  
ROUTES. STREETS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF RAGING WATER  
WITH UNDERPASSES SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME VERY  
DANGEROUS. NUMEROUS ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED  
OR WASHED OUT.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
SIGNIFICANT TO EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA.  
 
* WIND:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
PUERTO RICO AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM  
HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING ADDITIONAL LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE  
IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND UNANCHORED  
MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN ABOUT.  
- MANY LARGE TREE LIMBS BROKEN OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED OR  
UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE  
SHALLOW ROOTED. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON  
BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS  
ACROSS PUERTO RICO AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER  
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS  
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,  
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES  
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS  
PULLED FROM MOORINGS.  
 
* SURGE:  
LITTLE TO NO IMPACTS ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME ACROSS PUERTO RICO  
AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
DO NOT RETURN TO EVACUATED AREAS UNTIL HAZARDOUS WINDS DIMINISH AND  
FLOOD WATERS ABATE.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
NOW IS THE TIME TO REMAIN SAFELY SHELTERED FROM THE STORM. STAY INSIDE  
AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. LISTEN FOR UPDATES AND BE READY IN CASE YOU  
LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. LOCATE YOUR BATTERY POWERED RADIO AND FLASHLIGHT  
FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT. KEEP THESE ITEMS CLOSE.  
 
DURING THE PEAK OF THE STORM, KEEP YOUR SHOES ON AND RAIN GEAR HANDY.  
BOOTS AND TENNIS SHOES OFFER THE BEST FOOT PROTECTION IF YOU BECOME  
UNEXPECTEDLY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS.  
 
CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE WELL CHARGED FOR AS LONG AS  
POSSIBLE. IF YOU LOSE POWER, USE IT MORE SPARINGLY AND MAINLY FOR  
PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND CHECK-INS. DO NOT OVERLOAD COMMUNICATIONS  
SYSTEMS WITH IDLE CHATTER.  
 
DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE WHILE IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE. WITHIN THE  
EYE, WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY TEMPORARILY IMPROVE WHICH CAN BE  
MISLEADING. ONCE THE EYE PASSES, THE WIND WILL CHANGE DIRECTION AND  
RETURN TO DANGEROUS SPEEDS. HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO RETURN. BE SMART AND  
REMAIN SAFELY HIDDEN FROM THE STORM.  
 
DO NOT BE A THRILL SEEKER OR RISK YOUR LIFE FOR SENSELESS PHOTOS OR  
VIDEOS. BE WISE AND AVOID BECOMING ANOTHER STATISTIC.  
 
BE READY TO MOVE TO THE IDENTIFIED SAFE ROOM IF YOUR HOME OR SHELTER  
BEGINS TO FAIL. QUICKLY MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  
PUT AS MANY STURDY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE STORM AS YOU CAN.  
PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND BODY.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN SAN JUAN PR AROUND 8 AM AST, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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