Hurricane Fiona strengthens to Category 3, becomes first major hurricane of Atlantic season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The First Alert Weather Team is monitoring Hurricane Fiona, which became a Category 3 hurricane early Tuesday.

WATCH THE FORECAST | DOWNLOAD THE APPS

Fiona became the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season, strengthening into a Category 2 late Monday then to a Category 3 early Tuesday. Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says the average date for such an occurrence is Sept. 1.

The storm made landfall as a hurricane in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Here are the 11 a.m. Tuesday advisory updates:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

• Turks and Caicos

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Southeastern Bahamas, including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands

LISTEN: Mike Buresh ‘All the Weather, All the Time’ Podcast

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

Here is what we can expect from Fiona, according to Action News Jax First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh:

• Fiona’s track will be stay well east of Florida
• No inland local impacts; we will see building seas and surf at our beaches in the next few days with dangerous rip currents
• No rain from Fiona for Northeast Florida or Southeast Georgia
• Near Bermuda Thursday night/Friday

Get the full details on Fiona in the latest entry of Talking the Tropics with Mike

Follow Action News Jax Meteorologists on Twitter for updates:

Mike Buresh | Garrett Bedenbaugh | Corey Simma

INTERACTIVE RADAR: Keep track of the rain as it moves through your neighborhood

SHARE WITH US: Send us photos of the weather you’re seeing in your area ⬇️