Tropical Storm Fay could hit the Florida coast Weather forecasters expect Tropical Storm Fay to hit Florida with hurricane strength. Over 25,000 Florida tourists have been evacuated. Most stores in Key West are closed.

Tropical Storm Fay Warns Florida

By Mary Couchman
Aug 18, 2008 17:42 PM GMT
Tropical Storm Fay could hit the Florida coast

Weather forecasters expect Tropical Storm Fay to hit Florida with hurricane strength. Over 25,000 Florida tourists have been evacuated. Most stores in Key West are closed.

Tropical Storm Fay is approaching Florida with high wind gusts and heavy rains. Officials say that 25,000 Florida tourists have been evacuated from Key West.

Heavy traffic was reported in the upper Keys. The only airport in Key West has closed. Several businesses have boarded up in storm preparation.

The tropical storm has left as many as 35 dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Forecasters said Fay is expected to be near hurricane strength as it reaches Key West later on Monday. High winds and limited flooding is expected from Fay. Florida would receive rainfall from 4 to 10 inches.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said that nearly 500 National Guard troops have been deployed but will not be dispatched until further notice.

Fay does not appear to be as powerful as other recent Florida storms. If Fay does become a hurricane, it will probably be a category 1 storm. A category 1 hurricane has minimal winds of 75 mph.

Hurricane warnings have been posted up and down Florida's west peninsula.


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Tropical Storm Fay could hit the Florida coast with hurricane winds. Heavy traffic was reported in Key West as 25,000 people have evacuated.