PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – South Florida remained under a Tropical Storm Watch late Thursday night, as authorities prepared for Tropical Storm Isaias to affect South Florida and the Northwest Bahamas on Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center issued that watch for the east coast of Florida from Ocean Reef northward to Sebastian Inlet. The storm will bring heavy rain and cause isolated flash and urban flooding — especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
Isaias was about 95 miles east-southeast of Great Inagua Island, at 11 p.m. Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and moving toward the northwest at 18 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm has already caused flooding and some damage over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Members of the Puerto Rico National Guard helped to rescue at least 25 people from flooded areas in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
On the Hurricane Center’s forecast track, the center of Isaias had moved near the southeastern Bahamas by late Thursday night. Isaias is forecast to be near the central Bahamas Friday night.
Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross
Warm waters are strengthening Isaias into a Category 1 Hurricane, but the stronger the storm will get the farther away it will move from Florida.
Here is the list of places that are under a hurricane warning in the northwest Bahamas:
- Andros Island
- New Providence
- Eleuthera
- Abacos Islands
- Berry Islands
- Grand Bahamas Island
- Bimini
Here is the list of places that are under a tropical storm warning:
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.
- Dominican Republic: The entire southern and northern coastlines
- North coast of Haiti from Le Mole St Nicholas eastward to the northern border with the Dominican Republic
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
- Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador
WATCH LIVE: Tropical Storm Isaias satellite
LISTEN: Bryan Norcross Podcast — Latest on the tropics with Dr. Phil Klotzbach
FOR MORE COVERAGE: Visit our Local 10 Hurricane Page
Local 10 News Digital Reporter/Producer Andrea Torres contributed to this report.