Puerto Rico is bracing for life-threatening flash floods and intense winds as Tropical Storm Isaias approaches.
The National Hurricane Center reported Thursday that the strengthening storm system will bring heavy rain, mudslides, and other life-threatening weather conditions to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and other islands in the Caribbean. The storm is still on track to hit most of Florida over the weekend.
“There is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge along portions of the U.S. east coast beginning this weekend in Florida and spreading northward to the Carolinas and southern mid-Atlantic states early next week,” the NHC said in a statement. “Due to Isaias interacting with Hispaniola, the details of the track and intensity forecast remain uncertain and it is too soon to determine the magnitude and location of these potential impacts.”
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, but winds could reach nearly 70 mph by Saturday, according to the NHC. A storm becomes categorized as a hurricane after reaching maximum sustained wind speeds of 74 mph.
Heavy rainfall and flooding will remain a threat to Puerto Rico today as Tropical Storm #Isaias moves to the west of the area. For more local information for Puerto Rico visit https://t.co/gEjkoB4Y73 pic.twitter.com/6lRJuyoIGI
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 30, 2020
Tropical Storm #Isaias continues to produce life-threatening flash flooding and gusty winds across Puerto Rico. Heavy rains and gusty winds are spreading across the Dominican Republic. Here are the 11 AM 7/30 Key Messages. More info: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/sSXaNcttfP
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 30, 2020
On Tuesday, one of Puerto Rico’s fragile electricity grids failed for unknown reasons, leaving more than 450,000 people without power. And on Wednesday, a transformer exploded in the capital of San Juan, leaving another 33,000 without power just hours before the storm was expected to hit. The United States territory’s power grid was pummeled by Hurricane Maria in 2017, leaving many people in darkness for months after the storm.
In preparation for the storm, the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced it would close all coronavirus testing facilities from Friday until Tuesday as cases continue to spike in the Sunshine State. In Florida, more than 460,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19, and over 6,500 have died from the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
