Tropical Storm Fay heads towards Florida Keys
Aug 17, 2008

With tropical storm Fay expected to reach hurricane strength as it heads towards Florida, Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency.

Forecasters are predicting that Fay could become a category 1 hurricane when it reaches the Florida Keys later on Monday or early Tuesday. Area officials have issued an order requiring visitors to evacuate the area beginning at 8 AM today. Those with plans to arrive in the Keys are being asked to delay their trip.

Chairman of the Keys tourist development council, Monroe County Mayor Mario Di Gennaro, stated "we hate to inconvenience those visitors that had plans to be in the Keys the next few days, but their well-being is our top priority."

Tropical storm Fay is the sixth major storm of the 2008 season. As of this morning, the center was 395 miles southeast of Key West and is tracking west-northwest at 13 miles an hour. Fay has sustained winds close to 50 miles per hour.

A hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West and includes the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay as well as from the southern tip from Card Sound Bridge to Bonita Beach. This level of warning means that conditions exist which could have this area hit by a hurricane within 36 hours. Additionally, a tropical storm warning has been put in place for the southeast coast of Florida up to Jupiter Inlet and Lake Okeechobee.

The Keys are particularly vulnerable to storm surges due to most of the islands being at sea level. There is a single highway leading to the mainland. Authorities are hoping that the early evacuation order will assist in dealing with anticipated traffic delays.