Fay causes Fla. evacuation, threatens Cuba

MIAMI, Aug. 17 (UPI) --

A hurricane watch was posted Sunday along the west coast of Florida from the Keys to Tarpon Springs, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Meteorologists earlier advised tourists in the Florida Keys to evacuate the region as Tropical Storm Fay advanced and threatened to turn into a hurricane by the time it reaches the Keys early Monday.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency, warning Fay could become "a major disaster."

A hurricane watch remained in effect for Cuba from the provinces of La Habana and Ciudad de la Habana eastward to Sancti Spiritus, and the government of Cuba issued a tropical storm warning for the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud, while dropping a tropical storm warning for southeastern Cuba. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the provinces of Cuba from Camaguey westward.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 205 miles southeast of Havana and about 270 miles south-southeast of Key West, Fla. Fay was moving west-northwest at about 15 mph with top winds near 50 mph with higher gusts.

Fay was expected to turn to the northwest and move at a slower forward speed Sunday night, with a turn toward the north expected some time Monday. Fay was forecast to cross western Cuba Sunday night or Monday morning and approach the Florida Keys Monday, possibly gaining hurricane strength Sunday night.

The storm has been blamed for at least three deaths in the Dominican Republic. A woman and her children were killed when their car was swept away by flood waters, Listin Diario reported.

In Haiti, one death was reported, and one person was missing.

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