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Tropical Storm Fay heads to Cuba Florida emergency for storm Fay
(1 day later)
Severe weather over the Dominican Republic has strengthened into a tropical storm which is heading towards Cuba, US weather forecasters said. The US state of Florida has declared a state of emergency ahead of the arrival of tropical storm Fay, which has swept through the Dominican Republic.
At 2100GMT on Friday Tropical Storm Fay was about 55km (35 miles) east of the Dominican Republic's capital, with winds of 65km/h (40mph). One woman has died there and her two nephews were missing after their truck became engulfed in water east of San Domingo, Dominican Republic's capital.
It is expected to travel across Haiti on Saturday, before veering north and hitting eastern Cuba later in the day. More than 2,000 people were evacuated, hundreds of homes have been damaged while a further 15,000 have lost power.
Fay could become a hurricane as it moves towards Cuba then on to Florida.
Sustained winds of 75km/h (45mph) and rainfall of 20cm (eight inches) were recorded in the Dominican Republic.
Stocking up
On Saturday, the storm moved across Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, with red alerts issued along with orders to evacuate specific areas.
Authorities in Cuba have issued a "hurricane-watch" for three provinces.
HOW HURRICANES FORM Sea surface temperatures above 26.5C (79.7F)A pre-existing weather disturbanceMoisture in the atmosphereFavourable conditions, such as light winds or weak wind shear Animated guide: Hurricanes
On Saturday afternoon, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said the storm was 80km (50mph) south south-east of Guantanamo, Cuba.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos islands, the south-eastern Bahamas, while Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, south of Cuba, issued a tropical storm watch.
The storm is expected to reach Florida after it crosses Cuba on Sunday.
US weather forecasters said Fay was not expected to strengthen, but that torrential rainfall of 30.5cm could be expected.
Florida's Governor Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency, saying Fay threatened a "major disaster".
Fay could hit the Keys on Monday and residents of Miami have been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and emergency items.
Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.
Two of the tropical storms so far, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength - with winds of at least 119km/h.Two of the tropical storms so far, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength - with winds of at least 119km/h.
US weather forecasters said Fay was not expected to strengthen, but said that torrential rainfall of 12in (30.5cm) could be expected.