Tropical storm Isaac is currently lashing Haiti with heavy winds and rain, according to U.S. National Hurricane Center tracking data.
The storm’s wind speeds are estimated at 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) with gusts up to 70 mph.
Isaac will be upgraded to a hurricane if sustained wind speeds reach 74 mph.
The storm is a major threat to the 400,000 Haitians who lost their homes in the January 2010 earthquake and are still living in tents, CNN reported. Mudslides caused by heavy rains in the hills above populated areas are also a concern.
The center of the storm is currently located in the Windward Passage between Haiti and Cuba and is moving to the northwest at 14 mph.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for parts of southern Florida, which means it expects hurricane conditions to occur somewhere in the warning area within the next 36 hours.
Isaac is projected to pass close to Tampa, Florida, on Monday, the day the Republican Party is scheduled to kick off its 2012 national convention in the city.
