TS Isaac Eyes Haiti, DR and Cuba

HAVANA TIMES — Tropical Strom Isaac churns southeast of Puerto Rico with slightly decreased winds of 40 mph, as it moves towards a predicted landing in Haiti or the Dominican Republic by late Friday or Saturday.

A hurricane warning is in effect  for all of Haiti and portions of the DR, while a tropical storm alert is in effect for all of Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, the Cuban Weather Service (INSMET) is advising caution, stating the storm could present a threat to Cuba.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami is predicting that Isaac, which dropped a bit in intensity early Thursday, should pick up steam and could become a hurricane (75 mph winds) before passing over land on Hispañola Island.

At 6:00 a.m. (EDT) on Thursday, INSMET fixed the center of the storm at 245 miles south-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico and 355 miles east-southeast of Saona, Dominican Republic. Isaac was moving west at 12 mph.