It was approaching the Dominican Republic after just missing Puerto Rico. Forecasters warned its heavy rains could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Fred was nearing the Dominican Republic early Wednesday, with forecasters warning that its heavy rains could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides — and saying it could have the U.S. on its target list. After a quiet month without any named storms in the region, Fred became the sixth of the Atlantic hurricane season as expected late Tuesday. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for portions of the Dominican Republic. The previous named Atlantic storm was Hurricane Elsa, but this time of summer usually marks the start of the peak of hurricane season. On the forecast track, Fred’s center was expected to be near or over Hispaniola later Wednesday, move near the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas on Thursday, then north of the northern coast of central Cuba on Friday, the U.
