Tropical Storm Fiona threatens to bring heavy rains to Puerto Rico, could strengthen into a hurricane

Tropical Storm Fiona is expected to make its way toward Puerto Rico on Saturday and pass near the U.S. territory this weekend, with the potential for dangerously heavy rain in isolated spots, forecasters said. The storm threaded between Guadeloupe and Montserrat while entering the eastern Caribbean, dropping heavy rains over the northern Leeward Islands.

Forecasters placed Puerto Rico under a hurricane watch and people braced for potential landslides, severe flooding and power outages.

Fiona was then expected to cross over or pass near the Dominican Republic on Monday near hurricane strength with the same threat of extreme rains in places that could cause flash floods and mudslides, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.