Hurricane Isaias, which strengthened into a Category 1 storm overnight, is expected to become even more powerful as it crosses over the Bahamas Friday on its path towards the US east coast, forecasts show.
The hurricane as of Friday morning had maximum sustained winds of 75 miles-per-hour and it was expected to remain that way for the next few days as it moves towards Florida, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
It was expected to maintain a northwest path passing over the southeastern Bahamas before the central Bahamas in the evening Friday and east coast of Florida on Saturday afternoon.
Forecasters declared a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for parts of Florida on Friday as the hurricane – which is expected to weaken on its approach to the Sunshine State — soaked the Bahamas.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Isaias will cause “heavy rains and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides” across the Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.
“Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect south and east-central Florida late Friday night, and the eastern Carolinas by early next week, potentially resulting in isolated flash and urban flooding,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Tropical storm conditions are expected with hurricane conditions along portions of the Florida east coast beginning Saturday, officials said.
The National Hurricane Center added, “There is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge beginning late this weekend along the northeastern Florida coast and spreading northward along the remainder of the US east coast through early next week.”
Officials said they were closing beaches, marinas and parks in the Miami-Dade County beginning Friday night.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county has 20 evacuation centers on standby that could be set up with COVID-19 health safety protocols.
“We still don’t think there is a need to open shelters for this storm but they are ready,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters Friday that the city was keeping a close eye on the trajectory of the hurricane.
“So far the projections look pretty favorable to us. The chance of u having a substantial impact is minimal and this would be in the early part of next week,” de Blasio said.
The mayor noted, “But we’re watching this hour by hour.”
“Anytime we see a hurricane coming – look every one of us who went through [Superstorm] Sandy – we never minimize the warning that a hurricane may be coming,” de Blasio said, explaining, “I think we’ll know a lot more in the court of the next 24 hours.”
On Thursday, while still a tropical storm, Isaias toppled trees, destroyed crops and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
A man died in the Dominican Republic when he was electrocuted by a fallen electrical cable, officials said.
The Puerto Rico National Guard rescued at least 35 people from floodwaters, which swept away one woman who remained missing Friday.
With Post wires