Tropical Storm Isaac lashed Haiti early Saturday, bringing gale-force winds and potential flooding to a nation where hundreds of thousands still live in tent cities following a 2010 earthquake.
Strong winds and high surf pounded Haiti's coastline as the storm passed over the nation. Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Keys.
By early Saturday morning, Isaac -- with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph -- was 150 southeast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and moving at 14 mph, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. The storm lost power as it passed over Haiti, though it was expected to gain strength as it moved back over open water.
Rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are expected, with up to 20 inches possible in portions of Hispaniola -- the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Cuba issued a tropical storm warning for its eastern provinces, and the Bahamian government put Andros Island under a hurricane watch, the National Hurricane Center said.
A hurricane watch was issued early Saturday for Florida's east coast, from Golden Beach south, while a hurricane warning was issued for the Florida Keys, the west coast of Florida, from Bonita Beach south, and the Floriday Bay, according to the hurricane center.
A watch means hurricane conditions are possible, and a warning means that hurricane conditions are expected.
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