Hurricane Isaias approaches Florida

Forecasters declared a hurricane watch for parts of the Florida coastline on Friday as Hurricane Isaias drenched the Bahamas on a track for the U.S. East Coast.

Officials in Florida said they were closing beaches, marinas and parks in Miami-Dade County beginning Friday night. 

Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county has 20 evacuation centers on standby that could be set up with COVID-19 safety measures.

'We still don't think there is a need to open shelters for this storm but they are ready,' he said.

Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) Friday morning and it was expected to remain a hurricane for the next few days, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was centered about 295 miles (470 kilometers) southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas and was moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph).

The Hurricane Center said heavy rains associated with the storm 'may begin to affect South and east-Central Florida beginning late Friday night, and the eastern Carolinas by early next week, potentially resulting in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.'

And the 'cone of concern' which shows areas where the storm may have an impact includes the tri-state area and New York City NBC4 reported.

Winds could begin to pick up in the city on Tuesday, but it is still too early to predict the severity of the weather or whether the storm will track away. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8579131/Bahamas-braces-newly-formed-Hurricane-Isaias-bears-down.html?fbclid=IwAR20VBwHMRXba3O0LkSz0sS-PCbC5_X1ULiqUTrfZGYPHAOJoAL0yJnHi9M