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| Storm hits Cuba on way to Florida | Storm hits Cuba on way to Florida |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tropical Storm Fay has struck Cuba after causing widespread flooding that left dozens dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. | Tropical Storm Fay has struck Cuba after causing widespread flooding that left dozens dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. |
| The storm appears to have spared Havana and caused minimal damage elsewhere in Cuba, where authorities had evacuated dozens of low-lying areas. | The storm appears to have spared Havana and caused minimal damage elsewhere in Cuba, where authorities had evacuated dozens of low-lying areas. |
| But Fay could reach hurricane strength before it nears the Florida Keys later on Monday, US forecasters say. | But Fay could reach hurricane strength before it nears the Florida Keys later on Monday, US forecasters say. |
| Officials there have opened shelters and urged visitors to leave. | Officials there have opened shelters and urged visitors to leave. |
| The storm passed over Haiti and the Dominican Republic at the weekend, bringing torrential downpours. | The storm passed over Haiti and the Dominican Republic at the weekend, bringing torrential downpours. |
| Several people were killed by the flooding, and in Haiti, many people were feared to have drowned in the south-west of the country after the bus they were travelling was swept away by a swollen river on Sunday. | |
| Mudslides | Mudslides |
| By 1200GMT on Monday, the centre of the storm was 125km (80 miles) east of Havana and about 160km (100 miles) south-south-east of Key West in Florida, the US National Hurricane Center said. | By 1200GMT on Monday, the centre of the storm was 125km (80 miles) east of Havana and about 160km (100 miles) south-south-east of Key West in Florida, the US National Hurricane Center said. |
| US forecasters warned that Fay could dump 20cm (12 inches) of rain on Cuba, with up to 30cm (12 inches) in isolated cases, bringing the risk of flash floods and mudslides. | US forecasters warned that Fay could dump 20cm (12 inches) of rain on Cuba, with up to 30cm (12 inches) in isolated cases, bringing the risk of flash floods and mudslides. |
| Jose Rubiera, Cuba's chief meteorologist, said the storm had hit Cuba near the sparsely-populated Peninsula de Zapata close to the Bay of Pigs, the Associated Press reported. | Jose Rubiera, Cuba's chief meteorologist, said the storm had hit Cuba near the sparsely-populated Peninsula de Zapata close to the Bay of Pigs, the Associated Press reported. |
| Cuban authorities had warned people to be prepared for the storm and had ordered the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from low-lying areas, along with tourists staying at coastal resorts in the storm's predicted path. | Cuban authorities had warned people to be prepared for the storm and had ordered the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from low-lying areas, along with tourists staying at coastal resorts in the storm's predicted path. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Moving at about 19km/h (12mph), Fay is expected to be near the Florida Keys by Monday night and could be hurricane strength, the NHC said. | Moving at about 19km/h (12mph), Fay is expected to be near the Florida Keys by Monday night and could be hurricane strength, the NHC said. |
| Maximum sustained winds are 100km/h (60 mph), and a hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida Keys and along the southern and western coast of the Florida mainland between Card Sound Bridge to Tarpon Springs. | Maximum sustained winds are 100km/h (60 mph), and a hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida Keys and along the southern and western coast of the Florida mainland between Card Sound Bridge to Tarpon Springs. |
| Florida's Governor Charlie Crist has called a state of emergency, saying Fay threatened a "major disaster". But he insisted the state was prepared, ready and vigilant. | Florida's Governor Charlie Crist has called a state of emergency, saying Fay threatened a "major disaster". But he insisted the state was prepared, ready and vigilant. |
| The main highway linking the Keys to the mainland was choked with traffic on Sunday afternoon, local police said. | The main highway linking the Keys to the mainland was choked with traffic on Sunday afternoon, local police said. |
| Residents of Miami have, meanwhile, been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and emergency items. | Residents of Miami have, meanwhile, 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. |
| Has Tropical Storm Fay affected you? Are you in Florida preparing for the storm to hit? Send us your comments by completing the form below. | Has Tropical Storm Fay affected you? Are you in Florida preparing for the storm to hit? Send us your comments by completing the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |