Fay Headed to Cuba then FloridaJames Wilson, Lead Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
5:43 a.m. ET 8/17/2008
Fay strengthens some with sustained winds mostly offshore to 50 mph,
moving west-northwest at about 13 mph along southeast Cuba and north of
Jamaica.
For now, the primary threat will be life threatening flash floods and
mudslides spreading from extreme southeastern Haiti across parts of
eastern and southern Cuba and Jamaica to the northern Cayman Islands.
Isolated rainfall totals in excess of 10 inches are possible,
particularly over mountainous terrain, especially in Jamaica next 6
hours.
The current forecast track will bring Fay toward southeast and central Cuba and
then toward the Florida Keys.
Hurricane watches have been posted for parts of the central Cuban coast. Also
posted as of 5 a.m. EDT for the Florida Keys from south of Ocean Reef
to Key West, including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay and along the
Florida mainland from Card Sound Bridge westward to Bonita Beach.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for eastern Cuba, Cayman Brac and Little
Cayman. Showers and squalls will impact particularly Jamaica and
eastern Cuba through Sunday. While the center of Fay may track to the
northeast of Grand Cayman Todday, some outer rainbands and windy
conditions seem in the offing, particularly in Little Cayman and Cayman
Brac.
Tropical storm watches remain in effect for both Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Central Bahamas.
The exact track is critical, for if the storm can remain just south of Cuba
over open waters for a longer period of time, strengthening would be
possible.
With the forecast of an eventual turn to the northwest later tonight into Monday, Fay could
become a minimal hurricane after it emerges off the north side of Cuba
later Monday. The Florida Keys and south Florida will see impacts
beginning as early as overnight Sunday into Monday.
Residents of Florida and the Southeastern U.S. should continue to monitor the
progression of this system. Now is the time to review your plan of
action and begin to take action to protect your family and your
property.
The Weather Channel will be doing full coverage on Sunday into Monday for Fay with live reports
from the field and special reports from Dr Lyons. Stay tuned for the
latest updates on The Weather Channel and Weather.Com
Farther east, in the central tropical Atlantic, another broad low pressure
circulation continues to track slowly west. This low pressure remains
weak and disorganized and any development or strengthening of this low
will be slow to occur.
In the eastern Pacific basin, Iselle is a tropical depression. Iselle will drift
slowly northwest or west-northwest and continue to weaken and the final
advisory has been written on this system as it swirls harmlessly in the
open waters.