WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The disturbance formerly known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 has strengthened into Tropical Storm Isaias (ees-ah-EE-ahs) bringing flooding to Puerto Rico and other islands.
At 11 p.m., the system is moving west-northwest at about 20 mph with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph.
SPECIAL SECTION: Hurricane Guide
On the forecast track, the system will pass south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday night, near or over Hispaniola on Thursday and near eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas on Friday.
The system will approach the northwestern Bahamas and southern Florida Friday night.
When the system moves toward Hispaniola, it will be run into rugged mountains, which may limit strengthening.
By the weekend, it will approach Florida. Still, there is uncertainty as to the exact track of the storm, considering there's no real center of circulation, so models aren't able to initialize properly.
Computer models show about a 50 percent of West Palm Beach seeing tropical storm-force winds.
Summary of watches and warnings in effect:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
- Saba and St. Eustatius
- St. Maarten
- Dominican Republic 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
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Northwestern Bahamas including Andros Island, New Providence,Eleuthera, Abacos Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahamas Island, andBimini
