Tropical Storm Isaac crossed Haiti, killing at least one person, made landfall in Cuba Saturday afternoon, and is expected to build to hurricane strength as churns ominously toward South Florida.
With the threat that it could hit South Florida as a possible Category 2 hurricane, Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency, and local officials announced that schools will close Monday in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Scott, on a brief stop in South Florida Saturday, said that Isaac’s current path “is not positive for our state.’’
“The most important thing is continue to get prepared, to have a plan in place,” said the governor, who visited Broward County’s Emergency Operations Center.
The National Hurricane Center placed the Florida Keys and Southwest Florida under a hurricane warning, with Isaac expected to approach Sunday as a 75- to 80-mph hurricane, veering across the Lower Keys and skirting the state’s southwestern tip. Miami-Dade was under a hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings and watches extended up the east coast to Sebastian.
At 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reported that much of Florida’s west coast was under a tropical storm watch, including Tampa Bay, where the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin on Monday. NHC Director Rick Knabb said flooding from storm surge was a possibility as Isaac passes off the coast, possibly as a strong Category 2 hurricane.
The northern coastline of Cuba, on Saturday afternoon, was feeling the brunt of Isaac’s weather.
Havana’s Meteorological Institute reported that the storm touched down in Maisi, a municipality east of Guantanamo Saturday afternoon.
Radio Baracoa reported that two homes in the island’s eastern most city of 48,000 had collapsed and that the storm surge had thrown up a lot of debris on its seaside Malecon boulevard and nearby streets.
But the storm’s drama fizzled at the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where the military had scrapped this month’s Sept. 11 terror trial hearings and evacuated staff and observers from the crude compound called Camp Justice.
“The bad weather did not materialize here as tropical storm Isaac turned away and headed up the East coast of Cuba,” said Navy Capt. Robert Durand, the detention center spokesman.
The base did not report any damage or injuries in what amounted to a splash of summertime rain. Soldiers embarked on late-morning runs around the 45-square-mile base, while the base commander ordered the cafeterias reopened in time for 5:30 p.m. Saturday supper.
Forecasters believe the system’s jaunt over Cuba will be brief — and allow the storm more time to strengthen in the warm waters of the Florida Straits.
The sprawling storm could produce from six to 10 inches of rain and powerful gusts across much of South Florida, with tropical storm force winds beginning to buffet the Keys Sunday and building to hurricane force. Squalls that drenched South Florida overnight and Saturday morning weren’t part of Isaac but a hint of the dreary weather to come.
“It’s going to be a day to stay inside,” said Adam Futterman, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Key West office. “Travel is strongly discouraged.’’
With the threat that it could hit South Florida as a possible Category 2 hurricane, Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency, and local officials announced that schools will close Monday in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Scott, on a brief stop in South Florida Saturday, said that Isaac’s current path “is not positive for our state.’’
“The most important thing is continue to get prepared, to have a plan in place,” said the governor, who visited Broward County’s Emergency Operations Center.
The National Hurricane Center placed the Florida Keys and Southwest Florida under a hurricane warning, with Isaac expected to approach Sunday as a 75- to 80-mph hurricane, veering across the Lower Keys and skirting the state’s southwestern tip. Miami-Dade was under a hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings and watches extended up the east coast to Sebastian.
At 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reported that much of Florida’s west coast was under a tropical storm watch, including Tampa Bay, where the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin on Monday. NHC Director Rick Knabb said flooding from storm surge was a possibility as Isaac passes off the coast, possibly as a strong Category 2 hurricane.
The northern coastline of Cuba, on Saturday afternoon, was feeling the brunt of Isaac’s weather.
Havana’s Meteorological Institute reported that the storm touched down in Maisi, a municipality east of Guantanamo Saturday afternoon.
Radio Baracoa reported that two homes in the island’s eastern most city of 48,000 had collapsed and that the storm surge had thrown up a lot of debris on its seaside Malecon boulevard and nearby streets.
But the storm’s drama fizzled at the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where the military had scrapped this month’s Sept. 11 terror trial hearings and evacuated staff and observers from the crude compound called Camp Justice.
“The bad weather did not materialize here as tropical storm Isaac turned away and headed up the East coast of Cuba,” said Navy Capt. Robert Durand, the detention center spokesman.
The base did not report any damage or injuries in what amounted to a splash of summertime rain. Soldiers embarked on late-morning runs around the 45-square-mile base, while the base commander ordered the cafeterias reopened in time for 5:30 p.m. Saturday supper.
Forecasters believe the system’s jaunt over Cuba will be brief — and allow the storm more time to strengthen in the warm waters of the Florida Straits.
The sprawling storm could produce from six to 10 inches of rain and powerful gusts across much of South Florida, with tropical storm force winds beginning to buffet the Keys Sunday and building to hurricane force. Squalls that drenched South Florida overnight and Saturday morning weren’t part of Isaac but a hint of the dreary weather to come.
“It’s going to be a day to stay inside,” said Adam Futterman, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Key West office. “Travel is strongly discouraged.’’