Storm Reaches New Peak On Saturday Despite Predicted Demise

On Saturday, I had discussed the likely demise of Fiona, which had been expected at the time of that posting to become a depression late in the day, and dissipate by Monday. One thing you always have to keep in mind with tropical storms and hurricanes is that they can be fickle not only in terms of future track, but also sometimes with intensity.

Fiona demonstrated that fickle tendency on Saturday. After weakening to a minimal storm with 40 mph winds on Friday night, Fiona showed some resilience and fight on Saturday by strengthening to have winds of 50 mph before weakening again to 45 mph early Sunday morning. While this appeared to be a fluctuation, which can be anticipated, the storm defied forecast logic of its demise.

The storm has weakened a bit more over the past six hours. As of late latest advisory (11:00 AM EDT), which just came out a few minutes ago from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, Fiona was back down to a minimal storm with 40 mile per hour winds and 50 mph gusts. Minimum central pressure still high at 1007 millibars or 29.74 inches of Hg.

Tropical storm force winds in Fiona extend some 45 miles from the center of circulation. Fiona is currently moving to the West-Northwest at 16 mph, and is located approximately 680 miles to the Northeast of the Leeward Islands. Right now, the storm is no threat to land, and could actually be downgraded to a tropical depression later today or this evening, but remember, the same was said this time yesterday, and Fiona experience a bit of a resurgence.

The latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center has Fiona staying a bit more south and west than it had yesterday. On Saturday, the track appeared to have Fiona near Bermuda within five days. Now, the storm track has it still south of Bermuda by Wednesday, and actually turning northward and west of the resort island on Thursday morning. By that time, Fiona is anticipated to be post-tropical.