Hurricane Fiona strengthens into Category 3 storm after bashing Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

Fiona is now a major hurricane, strengthening overnight into a Category 3 storm as it barrels towards the Turks and Caicos Islands Tuesday.

Fiona sits about 30 miles north-northeast of North Caicos Island with winds up to 115 mph, as it crosses through Turks and Caicos Tuesday, as of the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. update.

Torrential rain, life-threatening flooding and storm surge that could raise water levels by 5 to 8 feet will accompany the storm as it passes over the islands.

Forecasters said Tuesday that Fiona is likely to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane over the next few days before moving out into the Atlantic Ocean, away from the eastern coast of the United States.

A flooded street is seen in the Juana Matos neighborhood of Catano, Puerto Rico. (-/)

A 5 p.m. curfew is already in place in Turks and Caicos, ordering residents to stay inside and off the streets as the storm threatens to dump up to eight inches of rain.

“Storms are unpredictable,” Turks and Caicos Premier Washington Misick warned Monday. “You must therefore take every precaution to ensure your safety.”

Fiona has already killed at least three people, including a man who died in a fire that sparked while he was trying to put gasoline in his generator and another whose house was washed away in the flooding, both in Puerto Rico. A third died in the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi called the damage “catastrophic” Monday.

Hurricane Fiona slammed into the Dominican Republic on Monday after knocking out power and causing widespread flooding in Puerto Rico. (ERIKA SANTELICES/)

More than 1.1 million people across Puerto Rico remain without power Tuesday while about 1 million in the Dominican Republic had lost access to running water.

President Biden Monday promised federal support to Puerto Rico, still rebuilding after Hurricane Maria. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel there Tuesday to meet with state and local officials to assess the needs of citizens.

Gov. Hochul is also sending 100 emergency responders to Puerto Rico to help.