Hurricane Fiona strengthens to Category 4, heads toward Bermuda

On Wednesday, Hurricane Fiona strengthened to a Category 4, leaving behind a trail of destruction in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. The National Hurricane Center reported 130 mile-per-hour winds with gusts reaching 155 miles per hour, and issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch to Bermuda, where Fiona is likely to hit towards the end of the week, CNN reports.
The storm is responsible for at least five deaths across the Caribbean. Puerto Rico continues to be without power and is suffering from extreme flooding and mudslides across the island. Fiona then hit the Dominican Republic, causing flooding, water infrastructure damage, and detrimental damage to the tourism industry. Turks and Caicos had a hurricane warning on Tuesday and was hit with 125 mph winds along with widespread power outages. There is also the potential for dangerous rip currents caused by storm surges in nearby coastal areas, CNN explains.
The Caribbean is currently looking at an intensive recovery timeline. Fiona comes almost exactly five years after Hurricane Maria, which caused devastating damage in Puerto Rico; NBC reports that 1.1 million people are without power — approximately one-third of the population of the U.S. territory. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting in Puerto Rico after President Biden issued a state of emergency on Sunday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As the storm moves north, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory stating, "U.S. citizens in Bermuda wishing to depart the island should depart now, ahead of Hurricane Fiona's arrival."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
The Four Seasons: 'moving and funny' show stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey
The Week Recommends Netflix series follows three affluent mid-50s couples on a mini-break and the drama that ensues
-
Thunderbolts*: Florence Pugh stars in 'super-silly' yet 'terrific' film
The Week Recommends This is a Marvel movie with a difference, featuring an 'ill-matched squad of antiheroes'
-
Five best ways to save money at the petrol pump
The Explainer You don't have to wait for petrol prices to fall to reduce your fuel costs
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star program
speed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protections
Speed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central US
Speed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslides
Speed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
-
Death toll rises in LA fires as wind lull allows progress
Speed Read At least 24 people have died and 100,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders
-
Biden cancels Italy trip as raging LA fires spread
Speed Read The majority of the fires remain 0% contained
-
Fast-spreading Los Angeles wildfires spark panic
Speed Read About 30,000 people were under an evacuation order as the inferno spread
-
Hundreds feared dead in French Mayotte cyclone
Speed Read Cyclone Chido slammed into Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean