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Fiona now a powerful Category 4 hurricane

The activity in the Atlantic is picking up. Tropical Storm Gaston out there along with three other areas being monitored.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hurricane Fiona continues to be a powerful storm in the Atlantic. The Category 4 storm is the strongest hurricane of the 2022 season, and it is the first major hurricane of the year. There are three other areas in the Atlantic being watched and one other named storm.

Hurricane Fiona had winds of 130 mph with gusts up to 160. It was moving to the north at 8 mph. The storm is now a powerful Category 4 hurricane. Some additional strengthening is forecast through tonight, with some fluctuations in intensity possible through the day on Thursday.

It is forecast to stay away from the continental U.S., but the Bermuda Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for Bermuda.

Credit: WLTX

A turn to the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected tomorrow.  The center of Fiona will continue to move away from the Turks and Caicos today, and approach Bermuda late Thursday.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 45 miles from the center of Fiona. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center of the storm.

There are four other areas being tracked in the tropics.

Credit: WLTX

Tropical Storm Gaston is in the northern Atlantic. It is forecast to meander out there for a few days. There are no watches or warnings in effect for Gaston.

A tropical wave is producing shower and thunderstorm activity a couple hundred miles east of the southern Windward Islands. The system continues to show signs of organization. It will likely become a tropical depression within the next couple of days.

Credit: WLTX

It is forecast to move west-northwest across the southern Windward Islands today and then move toward the central Caribbean Sea later this week.

Interests in the Windward Islands should closely watch the progress of this system as heavy rainfall and gusty winds are affecting these islands.  Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is forecast to impact northwestern Venezuela, northeastern Colombia, and the ABC island chain later this week. 

Credit: WLTX

The two other areas in the Atlantic are in the eastern tropical Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center gives these areas a low and a medium chance of further development.

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