HAVANA (AP) — Tropical Storm Isaac has pushed into Cuba after sweeping across Haiti's southern peninsula, where it caused flooding and at least three deaths.
Isaac's center made landfall just before midday near the far-eastern tip of Cuba, downing trees and power lines. The storm's surge caused some flooding in the picturesque city of Baracoa.
Forecasters say the storm is likely to grow into a hurricane as it moves northwest in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida's west coast. It could eventually hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of nearly 100 mph.
Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in Florida as officials prepare for possible bridge closures, flooding and other problems that could arise.
Vacationers are being urged to leave the Florida Keys. A hurricane warning has been posted for the Keys as well as the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach south to Ocean Reef and for Florida Bay.
Isaac could bring stormy weather to Tampa, where the Republican National Convention gets under way on Monday.
%@AP Links
139-a-11-(Governor Rick Scott, R-Fla., at news conference)-"will be closed"-Florida Governor Rick Scott says the storm could have far reaching impact. (25 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *139 (08/25/12)>> 00:11 "will be closed"
140-a-09-(Governor Rick Scott, R-Fla., at news conference)-"the Republican convention"-Florida Governor Rick Scott says public safety will be the top priority as the GOP national convention gets under way. (25 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *140 (08/25/12)>> 00:09 "the Republican convention"
144-a-10-(Rick Knabb, director, National Hurricane Center, in briefing)-"that general area"-National Hurricane Center Director Rick Knabb says the Tampa area will see storm surge as Isaac moves through Florida. (25 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *144 (08/25/12)>> 00:10 "that general area"
APPHOTO HTI106: In this photo released by the U.N. mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, a woman wades through what were dirt roads, now covered by flood waters, in a low lying area affected by Tropical Storm Isaac in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. Tropical Storm Isaac swept across Haiti's southern peninsula early Saturday, dousing a capital city prone to flooding and adding to the misery of a poor nation still trying to recover from the 2010 earthquake. (AP Photo/MINUSTAH, Logan Abassi) (25 Aug 2012)
<<APPHOTO HTI106 (08/25/12)>>
