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Storm hits Cuba on way to Florida Florida braced for tropical storm
(about 6 hours later)
Tropical Storm Fay has struck Cuba after causing widespread flooding that left dozens dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The US state of Florida is braced for Tropical Storm Fay, which is thought to have claimed dozens of lives on its rampage through the Caribbean.
The storm appears to have spared Havana and caused minimal damage elsewhere in Cuba, where authorities had evacuated dozens of low-lying areas. Forecasters warned Fay could reach hurricane force as it approached the Florida peninsula.
Fay passed over Florida's Key West without any reports of major damage. The storm's centre has already crossed Florida Key West with winds near 60mph (97km/h), flooding some roads.
It could still reach hurricane strength before it reaches Florida's west coast, the US National Hurricane Centre said. Florida's Governor Charlie Crist warned that Fay threatened a "major disaster", but he insisted the state was prepared.
By 1700 (2200 GMT), maximum sustained winds were 100km/h (60 mph) and Fay was about 145 miles (233km) south of Fort Myers, the agency said. With a state of emergency in place, Mr Crist said some 500 national guard members had been deployed, with another 8,500 on standby.
A hurricane watch is in effect along the southern and western coast of the Florida mainland between Card Sound Bridge and Tarpon Springs. The US National Hurricane Center said the storm still had the potential to top sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) by the time it hits the west coast of Florida early on Tuesday.
Florida's Governor Charlie Crist called a state of emergency, saying Fay threatened a "major disaster". But he insisted the state was prepared, ready and vigilant. Across Florida at least 22 school districts, a number of colleges and a university have cancelled classes.
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.
Mudslides
The storm passed over Haiti and the Dominican Republic at the weekend, bringing torrential downpours.
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: HurricanesHOW 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
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 in was swept away by a swollen river on Sunday. Residents of Miami have been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and other vital supplies.
Jose Rubiera, Cuba's chief meteorologist, said the storm had hit Cuba on Monday near the sparsely-populated Peninsula de Zapata, close to the Bay of Pigs, the Associated Press reported. The main highway linking the Keys to the mainland was choked with traffic on Sunday as thousands of tourists evacuated.
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. But not everyone was hunkering down - hundreds of surfers flocked to Miami beaches to take advantage of the huge swells created by the storm.
In Cuba, Fay caused some flooding and damaged a number of homes, although no deaths were reported.
But a number of lives were lost in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The worst incident was in Haiti, where a truck carrying around 60 passengers plunged into a swollen river, according to reports.
Officials there said half the passengers were missing, with many feared drowned.
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.
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.
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