Hurricane Fay Projected Path Continues to Inch Towards Florida

Hurricane Fay is now ready to strike Florida as citizens prepare and worry about its projected path. The projected path of storms like Hurricane Fay can change frequently, leaving much uncertainly and fear. But the projected path of Hurricane Fay suggests that Hurricane Fay will both be a minimal hurricane by hurricane standards, but may still be stronger than some think. The projected path of Hurricane Fay looks to bring almost a foot of rain to the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast.

As early as the middle of morning, Hurricane Fay should give parts of Florida bursts of rain and possibly the beginning of some flooding. Sustained winds could go up to 40 MPH as far east as the Wellington area. The afternoon and overnight storms from Hurricane Fay are expected to be the worst, leaving evening rush hour particularly harsh for drivers.

The projected path of Hurricane Fay started in Cuba, where the center of Fay still was at 8 a.m. By mid-morning, Hurricane Fay's path should be into the Florida Straits, where it will head for the Florida Keys by nightfall. Already, visitors to the Florida Keys are being asked to evacuate. By Tuesday, Hurricane Fay should be heading north.

As Fay approaches the Florida Keys, it may pass the hurricane threshold of 74 MPH as it heads for the Florida peninsula. Top winds earlier this morning were at 60 MPH, while the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County has begun to get severe rain bands. Due to Hurricane Fay's unorganized nature, the exact projected path of Fay has been hard for the National Hurricane Center to get exactly right.

Currently, Fay is projected to first land between Tampa and Ft. Myers, heading northeast but staying to the north of Lake Okeechobee.

Total rainfall of 6-8 inches is expected for Palm Beach Country and the Treasure Coast, though isolated areas could get a foot. Tornados may also be formed in fringe areas.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida Keys, the Florida mainland and provinces of Cuba, with a tropical storm warning for the northwestern Bahamas. The next official update from the National Hurricane Center should come at 11 AM Eastern time.