Hurricane Fiona now a Cat 4, Tropical Storm Gaston forms, a depression could follow
UPDATE: Hurricane Fiona is now a Category 4 storm. Where is it going? What the forecast shows
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Hurricane Fiona strengthened into a Category 4 storm early Wednesday. As of 2 a.m., Fiona had sustained winds of 130 mph.
Also, the seventh tropical storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Gaston, formed Tuesday over the north-central Atlantic — but far from land.
Forecasters are also watching two disturbances, and one has a high chance of turning into a tropical depression in the next several days and could be something for Florida to watch.
Also on forecasters’ radar: Hurricane Fiona, which left devastating damage in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and continued to batter Turks and Caicos most of Tuesday as a Category 3 hurricane.
Here’s what to know:
Tropical Storm Gaston forecast
Tropical Storm Gaston was about 920 miles west of the Azores, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. advisory on Tuesday.
The system had maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, and forecasters expect Gaston to strengthen, with about 60 mph winds, in the next few days before petering out. It is not forecast to become a hurricane.
“Interests in the Azores should monitor the progress of the system,” the hurricane center said.
Forecasters expect the system will become extra-tropical over the weekend once it runs into cooler waters, drier air and an increase in westerly shear.
What about the two disturbances?
The disturbance that forecasters are closely monitoring is a few hundred miles east of the Windward Islands Tuesday night and is continuing to show signs of organization.
The hurricane center said conditions are friendly enough for it to turn into a tropical depression within the next two or three days as it quickly moves west to west-northwest across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea.
The hurricane center, in its advisory on 8 p.m. Tuesday, upped the system’s formation chances from 60% to 70% for the next 48 hours and from 80% to 90% through the next five days.
“Interests in the Windward Islands should closely monitor the progress of this system as heavy rainfall and gusty winds could affect these islands beginning on Wednesday,” the hurricane center said.
Forecasters are also watching a tropical wave that is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa on Thursday. The hurricane center says it has no chance of formation in the next 48 hours and has gone from a 20% to a 40% chance of formation as it moves north between west Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands through the end of the week.
Hurricane Fiona forecast
By reaching Cat 3 level strength, Fiona has become the first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. It is not a threat to Florida or the rest of the United States. The hurricane strengthened into a Cat 4 storm early Wednesday with 130 mph winds.
As of late Tuesday night, the hurricane was about 95 miles north of North Caicos, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and higher gusts; that’s up from 115 mph winds earlier in the day, according to the National Hurricane Center’s advisory. The storm was creeping north at 8 mph, a slowdown from earlier Tuesday.
A turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected by Thursday.
“On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will continue to move away from the Turks and Caicos tonight and Wednesday, and approach Bermuda late on Thursday,” the hurricane center said.
Through the rest of Tuesday night, Fiona will continue to bring heavy rains to portions of the Turks and Caicos, according to the hurricane center.
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Forecasters think Fiona will strengthen into a Category 4 storm by early Wednesday afternoon. The forecast shows the system as a Cat 4 with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph by the time it nears Bermuda.
Bermuda is under a tropical storm watch.
As of the 11 p.m. advisory, all warnings for Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos have been discontinued.
READ MORE: Fiona is the first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season. Where is it going now?
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 7:57 AM with the headline "Hurricane Fiona now a Cat 4, Tropical Storm Gaston forms, a depression could follow."
