MIAMI – Tropical Storm Fiona, which officially became the sixth named system of the season in the Atlantic on Wednesday night, is keeping the Caribbean islands on alert after several tropical storm warnings were issued.

According to a bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued at 11 a.m. this Thursday, Tropical Storm Fiona is located 495 miles east of the Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west at 14 mph.

Follow the storm’s path in real time here

Fiona is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 10 inches over the island of Puerto Rico, and slightly more over the Dominican Republic.

NHC forecasts indicate that Fiona will pass through the Leeward Islands between Friday night and Saturday morning before heading toward Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Might get a little stronger in the coming days.

Notices, watches and warnings are in effect

Antigua, Barbuda, St. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla. Sabah, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.

The NHC recommends that residents of Puerto Rico, the island of Hispaniola (where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are located) and the Virgin Islands monitor the system’s progress, as additional tropical storm watches or warnings may be issued.

This is how the season is going in the Atlantic

The 2022 hurricane season was relatively quiet, with several weeks without systems and some that did not cause major damage.

Hurricane Earl reached Category 2 in the mid-Atlantic, causing about 40 deaths in various states of Mexico; Daniel became the first Atlantic hurricane of the season.

Before them, storms Alex, Bonnie and Colin formed during the current Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1.