FLORIDA (US) – Gaining strength slightly, hurricane Isaias lashed Bahamas on Saturday and was expected to reach southeast Florida later in the day.
The National Hurricane Centre said Isaias was carrying top sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and was located about 80 miles (125 km) south-southeast of Nassau at 5 am (0900 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said.
The NHC said the centre of the hurricane was approaching Andros Island in the Bahamas and would pass over or near the islands in the centre and northwest of the island on Saturday, posing a danger of damaging storm surges of up to 5 feet (1.52 m) over normal tide levels.
The Category 1 storm prompted Florida authorities to shut down coronavirus testing sites and residents stocked up essentials.
The NHC said Isaias was expected to deliver heavy rains to the state’s Atlantic coast before hitting the eastern Carolinas by early next week.
On the Atlantic coast, a state of emergency was declared by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a dozen counties.
The storm caused two deaths in the Dominican Republic and uprooted trees, flooded streets and snapped power lines in Puerto Rico.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field