(CMR) The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has now named cyclone 9 Tropical Storm Isais.
In its 11:00 a.m. update, the NHC said Isaias was expected to move over Hispaniola on Thursday and move near the Southeastern Bahamas by early Friday.
As the storm continues to move northwest storm watches in some areas have been discontinued, particularly for Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.
However, tropical storm watches remain in effect for Northwestern Bahamas including Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abacos Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahamas Island, and Bimini.
According to the latest advisory, the eye of Tropical Storm Isaias is located at latitude 17.6 North, longitude 68.5 West—or 175 kilometres east-southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic as at 7:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST).
The system is moving northwest at 31 kilometres/hour and packing maximum sustained winds around 95 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.
Isaias has slowed in forward speed since becoming the ninth-named tropical storm of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, with the NHC expecting the massive low-pressure system to slow further over the next 48 hours.
According to forecasters, heavy rains are expected for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and northern Haiti of about 4 to 8 inches.
Rainfall is also expected for Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Cuba of 4 to 8 inches.
Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect South Florida Saturday morning.
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