Tropical Storm Watch Issued For East Coast Of Florida

MIAMI, FL — A tropical storm watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida as Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to become a hurricane on Friday or Friday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm not only threatens portions of the Sunshine State but also Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts starting this weekend.

"While we can't be certain of the exact track of the storm, and we certainly can't be sure about the intensity it will ultimately reach, we do expect to see impacts to the state of Florida even if the storm remains off our shore which is the current forecast," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Floridians after the storm watch was issued.

"Make sure you have a plan and have seven days of food, water and medicine," the governor urged.

Florida's tropical storm watch was in effect for Ocean Reef to Sebastian Inlet as of the 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, which said tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 240 miles from the center of the storm.

"Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 20 mph ... and a northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days," the National Hurricane Center said at 8 p.m. Thursday. "On the forecast track, the center of Isaias will move near the Southeastern Bahamas by late tonight."

The storm was expected to be near the southeastern Bahamas by late Thursday night.

"Isaias is forecast to be near the Central Bahamas Friday night and move near or over the Northwestern Bahamas and near South Florida on Saturday," the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was located about 45 miles west-northwest of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and about 155 miles east-southeast of Great Imagua Island with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph as of 8 p.m. Thursday. It was moving toward the northwest at 20 mph.

In Miami-Dade County, which is considered to be the epicenter of Florida's coronavirus outbreak, Emergency Management Director Frank Rollason said officials will take special precautions if evacuations are ordered.

"They'll be screened, asked if they have any particular signs or symptoms," he said. "Their temperature will be taken. If they present to us with a particular problem, or if they have been cohabitating with somebody that is positive and has that exposure, we will isolate them away from general population in the evacuation center by utilizing school classrooms."

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Florida state officials shut down all state-supported drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites at 5 p.m. Thursday ahead of the possible arrival of Isaias.

"All sites have free-standing structures, including tents and other equipment, which cannot withstand tropical storm force winds, and could cause damage to people and property if not secured," state officials said. Tropical storms carry sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.

See related:

• Coast Guard Urges Vessels To Prepare For Tropical Cyclone 9
• Pinellas County Monitoring Potential Tropical Storm Isaias, Time To Prepare
• St. Pete Testing Site Closes Ahead Of Tropical Storm Precaution
• 2020 Hurricane Season Brings Uncertainty, Sleepless Nights

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.