PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Tropical storm watches are up already for both the west and east coasts of Florida, as Tropical Storm Isaac bears in on Haiti.
Forecasters expect landfall on Haiti's southern peninsula Friday night, bringing punishing rains. But they say it's unlikely to gain enough steam to strike as a hurricane.
Government and international aid groups in Haiti's capital are prepared to evacuate thousands of people still living in the camps that sprang up in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquakes.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Isaac is likely to stay below hurricane force as it makes its way across the Florida Keys. Once it reaches the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, however, forecasters say it's likely to gain strength and could develop into a hurricane.
Meanwhile, organizers of next week's Republican National Convention in Tampa said they are monitoring the storm. Some 70,000 delegates, journalists and protesters are expected, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott said there are no plans to cancel the convention.
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205-a-10-(Governor Rick Scott, R-Fla., at briefing)-"this, Sunday night"-Florida Governor Rick Scott says tropical storm watches have gone up for both the west and east coasts of the state. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *205 (08/24/12)>> 00:10 "this, Sunday night"
206-a-14-(Governor Rick Scott, R-Fla., at briefing)-"to your neighbors"-Florida Governor Rick Scott says even though it looks like Isaac will remain a tropical storm as it nears Florida, residents should still be getting hurricane supplies ready. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *206 (08/24/12)>> 00:14 "to your neighbors"
200-a-15-(Eric Blake, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"of Bonita Beach"-Hurricane specialist Eric Blake, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Isaac is strengthening, as it heads closer to the U.S. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *200 (08/24/12)>> 00:15 "of Bonita Beach"
201-a-14-(Eric Blake, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"Straits on Sunday"-Hurricane specialist Eric Blake, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Isaac is still dumping rain on Haiti. ((note "tonight" in cut refers to Friday)) (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *201 (08/24/12)>> 00:14 "Straits on Sunday"
202-a-12-(Eric Blake, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"become a hurricane"-Hurricane specialist Eric Blake, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Isaac will likely head west, and strengthen, after passing over the Florida Keys this weekend. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *202 (08/24/12)>> 00:12 "become a hurricane"
203-a-07-(Eric Blake, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"become a hurricane"-Hurricane specialist Eric Blake, at the National Hurricane Center, says they don't think the tropical storm will develop into a hurricane until after it passes the Florida Keys. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *203 (08/24/12)>> 00:07 "become a hurricane"
204-a-07-(Eric Blake, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"Florida, the Keys"-Hurricane specialist Eric Blake, at the National Hurricane Center, says the storm is expected to have several landfalls over the next few days. (24 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *204 (08/24/12)>> 00:07 "Florida, the Keys"
GRAPHICSBANK: Possible track of Tropical Storm Isaac through the Caribbean towards Florida, NOAA graphic image, partial graphic (24 Aug 2012)
APPHOTO XRA118: People run over a bridge covered by debris as waves hit the seawall, caused by Tropical Storm Isaac in Barahona, Dominican Republic, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened slightly as it spun toward the Dominican Republic and vulnerable Haiti on Friday, threatening to bring punishing rains but unlikely to gain enough steam to strike as a hurricane. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (24 Aug 2012)
<<APPHOTO XRA118 (08/24/12)>>
