Hurricane Fiona causes 'catastrophic' damage in Puerto Rico - is it on the way to Ireland?

Hurricane Fiona has knocked out the power for millions of people in Puerto Rico and the Domincan Republic after making landfall on Sunday evening.

Up to 40 centimetres of rainfall has been recorded in parts of the Dominican Republic, which, coupled with winds of 150km/h, has caused immense flooding in parts.

Though the tropical storm has now left the region, it is tracking north-eastwards over the western half of the Atlantic, presenting potential problems for Ireland in the near future.

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A flooded road is seen during the passage of hurricane Fiona in Villa Blanca, Puerto Rico (MELVIN PEREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency over the storm on Sunday after power was knocked out across Puerto Rico.

Governor Pedro Pierluisi told gathered reporters that the hurricane had caused landslides to block roads, trees and power lines to fall and collapsed a bridge in the town of Utuado.

The US National Hurricane Center said that any further rainfall will "produce catastrophic life-threatening flash floods and urban flooding" in a statement.

A local resident cleans the mudded entrance of a home next to damaged goods and debris after the passage of Hurricane Fiona in Goyave, on the French island of Guadeloupe (CARLA BERNHARDT/AFP via Getty Images)

As it stands, the storm is not set to hit Ireland as it begins to weaken, though nothing is guaranteed as any change in weather conditions and winds could send it further in our direction.

Met Éireann have warned in their monthly forecast that rainfall will be above average for this time of year next week with changeable and "unsettled" spells of weather in store.

Already in the 2022 storm season, we've seen Hurricane Danielle and Storm Earl cause thunderstorms to roll across the island.

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