Tropical Storm Watch Issued for Southern Florida

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:

• Glades
• Hendry
• Palm Beach 
• Collier 
• Broward
• Miami Dade
• Monroe

A watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.