Tropical Storm Fiona (2010)

Tropical Storm Fiona was the eighth tropical depression and sixth tropical storm in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. A weak and disorganized storm, it originated from a tropical wave that moved into the Atlantic Ocean late on August 25. After struggling to develop, it became a tropical storm on August 30 and was named Fiona. It followed closely behind Hurricane Earl, and moved through the northern Leeward Islands. There, it produced brief showers and tropical storm force wind gusts. Subsequently, Fiona reached its peak intensity on September 1, before it dissipated on September 4 to the south of Bermuda. No deaths were reported from the storm. Fiona was the second storm of 2010 to affect Bermuda after Tropical Storm Colin, and the third after Hurricane Bill a year earlier.

Meteorological history
A large tropical wave exited western Africa late on August 25, accompanied by a well-defined circulation and copious convection. Initially, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) assessed a low chance for tropical cyclogenesis on August 26, though it was upgraded to a high chance after it formed a low pressure area on the following day. Late on August 30, the NHC classified the system as Tropical Storm Fiona about 890 mi (1435 km) to the east of the Leeward Islands, based on a research flight into the system that recorded surface winds of 40 mph (75 km/h). Post-analysis indicates that Fiona developed as a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on August 30, after convection became more persistent over the center. Due to a ridge to the north, Fiona tracked quickly westward.

Initially, the strongest convection was displaced northwest of the center due to strong wind shear and upwelling by Hurricane Earl. By August 31, convection became more persistent near the slightly-elongated center. While the storm moved near the Lesser Antilles, Fiona reached peak winds of 65 mph, as reported by the Hurricane Hunters. The storm turned to the northwest and passed about 65 mi northeast of Barbuda on September 1. Persistent shear from Earl removed the deep convection, causing the storm to weaken. Fiona turned to the northeast on September 3, and early the next day was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone. The remnants passed near Bermuda and dissipated on September 5.

Preparations and Impact
On August 31, a tropical storm watch was declared for several islands in the eastern Caribbean, and that day a tropical storm warning was issued for Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. All were canceled on September 1. A tropical storm watch and later a warning was issued for Bermuda on September 2, which was canceled after Fiona became a post-tropical cyclone. The storm passed near the island, producing light winds about 0.78 inches (19.81 mm) of rainfall.