The Tampa Bay area remains in the five-day cone of uncertainty, as seven Florida counties are put on tropical storm watch.
The Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula are under a tropical storm watch tonight, with the center of Isaac about 790 miles southeast of Miami, the National Weather Service reports.
The storm has shifted to the east slightly, keeping the Tampa Bay area within the cone of uncertainty. Tropical Storm Isaac is 880 miles southeast of Naples.
Florida's tropical storm watch extends from the Keys to Palm Beach County and (inland) to Glades County, as the storm intensifies, with winds reaching 65 mph.
At 6 p.m. Friday, the storm was traveling in a northwest direction at 16 mph.
Isaac is expected to move across eastern Cuba Sunday. It is projected to travel west of Tampa Bay Tuesday morning, as a Category 1 hurricane.
If the storm stays on this track, it will travel near Tampa during the Republican National Convention, which runs Monday through Thursday.
Current computer models place the storm about 185 miles off Clearwater Beach on Tuesday, according to ABC News.
Hurricane officials are most concerned about gusting winds and the potential for flooding as Isaac moves closer to Florida.
The storm may reach Florida's panhandle Wednesday if it stays on the current projected course.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged Floridians to prepare for Isaac's arrival.
"The key to successfully managing a storm's impact is to make sure everyone is prepared," Scott said in his weekly address Friday. "That includes emergency preparations by state and local officials, but it also requires individuals and families to have a plan and to remain vigilant."
The following counties are under a tropical storm watch:
A watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.
cherylwithac
11:31 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
I saw Gov. Scott on CNN today, and I thought that he was highly irresponsible for insisting that all will be well for the 50,000 visitors coming to town for the RNC. He can't guarantee their safety, and out-of-towners will probably place their unfounded trust in him because he's the governor of Florida.
Mickie
1:13 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Anyone in their right mind would stay away just to be on the safe side. As far as the Governor its all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$ .
Jamie Robe
7:41 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
While this storm is not at this time fully developed, it is foolish to ignore the potential for it to rapidly strengthen and/or change course. I am amazed when Gov, Scott is telling these people to keep coming here, when we are supposed to be stocking up on 3 days food, etc. The visitors are the ones who are really flying into harms way, staying at hotels on the coast, not having cars, supplies, or local knowledge.
I pray that the storm does pass us by, but given our past experiences with Charley and even tropical storm Debby, Scott does seem to be acting politically instead of acting responsibly. For any other storm on this track we would be being told different things than this. Are residents also not taking as many precautions because of this double talk? Scott is clearly rolling the dice with people's lives.
We will see what Scott is really made of, when he decides if he is going to stay at this post OR be at some RNC party/speech.
Diana Smith
8:29 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
I did hear Gov Scott say that if the RNC cancelled they wouldnt be refunded their money! Wonder where that money will go if they do cancel? I agree we dont need others coming in our state during what could be a hurricane.
Peter on Riverview Blvd.
8:40 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Criticize.... complain......criticize....... Geeeze......!!
Governor Scott is has a positive attitude (unlike liberals).
"All about the $$$$$$$$$"..... ABSOLUTELY!!! Financial profit is great for the Tampa area.
Hey, liberals!! People are not stupid... people do not need their hand held.
George Gould
9:36 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Peter, I agree with you. People do not need their hand held. Given his track record as CEO at HCA, I would prefer that Governor Scott keep his hands where I can see them. Just remember that even though liberals have obvious shortcomings, that doesn't mean that self-proclaimed conservatives aren't flaming putzes.
Dad of Three
9:34 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Peter, if earlier posters were overly critical, your response "Hey liberals!!" etc was childish and unnecessary.
Positive attitudes, by themselves, can be dangerous, and people criticizing Scott for what he has said about the storm are by no means idealogical.
Personally, I think he's an idiot, and I'm a life-long Republican and not a fanatic of either the left or the right. But, his comments about the storm and the convention have probably been among his more rational comments, not that there's been a lot of those.
As for Isaac, we should just take precautions and keep watching for more definitive signs.
bert hastings
11:15 am on Sunday, August 26, 2012
the govenors first responability is to the people of Florida not the delegates
Virginia Bockmiller
11:00 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
I think that Gov. Scott is making a decision that would consider all factions regarding the RNC and the people of this state. I actually like Gov. Scott and we have to try and put ourselves in his position. He is trying to make everyone happy and as Abraham Lincoln once said, "you can't please all the people all the time". Personally I wouldn't want his job for all the tea in China.
Amy Turner Gregg
12:21 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
I agree Virginia! Well said! Gov Scott has a job to do and God Bless him for making a decision and trying to help the families and business of Tampa!
cherylwithac
1:28 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Amy, helping the businesses of Tampa--by possibly putting 50,000 out-of-towners at risk? Making money regardless of life and safety? Shame on you and shame on Gov. Scott. By the way, Virginia, he is not trying to make everyone happy. He's trying to make a buck despite the potential human costs.
George Gould
1:57 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
C'mon cheryl, be nice. The 50,000 out-of-towners he's putting at risk are mostly Republicans. At least he's not being hyper-partisan and going after Democrats.
Danie Huizenga
7:01 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
How can ANYONE back SCOTT? l am a Republican and its so easy to see how he is ruining Florida.....aren't people paying attention? Scares me...he should have been impreached by now.....
cherylwithac
2:37 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
George, I cannot believe how every conversation ends up being about Democrats and Republicans. Aren't we just Americans anymore with consideration for one and all?
George Gould
2:56 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
cheryl, what country have you been living in for the last 30 years? The Democrats accuse the Republicans of being Nazis and the Republicans accuse the Democrats of being Communists. How do you expect consideration under those circumstances. Besides you might want to consider the blood on your hands. A couple of commenters said some nice things about Scott and you chimed in about what a crook he is. What you said was true but certainly doesn't contribute to amity between the two parties.
cherylwithac
3:48 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
The blood on my hands, George? Please. You're the one who implied that Gov. Scott was a crook as CEO at HCA (quote: "I would prefer that Governor Scott keep his hands where I can see them"--scroll above if you can't remember what you've written.) I've decided that you just enjoy arguing for arguing's sake. By the way, the governor of Alabama just cancelled his plans to attend the RNC because of his responsibilities to the coastal residents of his state. At least he is putting his people first and his party second. Not so Gov. Scott.
George Gould
6:57 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
cheryl, I responded to you earlier but apparently one Sunde Farquhar doesn't appreciate my sense of humor. She never did say which part of my reply offended her delicate sensibilities - she just pulled my comment and thanked me for playing. Oh well. C'est la guerre! All I did was agree with you that I had said our beloved governor is a crook and that I argue for entertainment. I did disparage the intelligence of the American people and express my low opinion of them as a group. I'm hardly the first person to point out the defective intelligence of the average American but maybe that pulled her chain. Who knows? I just want Ms Farquhar to know that I've been thrown out of far nicer places than this.
f s.
5:45 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
gov. doesn't want to show his behind the Rep. Pt. will never forgive him . thats what it is all about he doesn't have areal good ole boy to council him ..he showed it more than once and has survived
cherylwithac
7:12 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Gov. Scott just showed his true colors: he's saving his own ass, as I just heard on CNN, by cancelling his attendance at the RNC on Monday and Tuesday. God help the unwitting 50,000 out-of-towners that he lured to Tampa.
Jamie Robe
9:31 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
I do feel sorry for them too. Even a tropical storm can be terrifying, especially those who are on the coastal hotels. I hope they keep those high profile buses off the roads and bridges until the winds drop. If there were any serious accidents due to the storm effects, it would be a tragedy AND a terrible PR disaster for Tampa and Florida. We can only hope for the best right now.
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