Update: Tropical Storm Fiona to Approach USVI and Puerto Rico This Weekend; Little Change in Strength Forecast

Tropical Storm Fiona, which formed in the Atlantic late Wednesday will arrive to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. N.H.C. is expected to start issuing tropical storm warnings later today.

So far tropical storm watches have been issued for Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours — around late Friday.

"Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola should monitor the progress of this system, as additional tropical storm watches or warnings will likely be required for portions of these areas later today," according to N.H.C.

At 500 a.m. Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 16.6 North, longitude 53.0 West. Fiona is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona is forecast to move through the Leeward Islands late Friday and Friday night, and move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next few days.