Aug. 15, 2008 — If the territory did not exactly dodge a bullet, it got plunked with the rubber variety as the wet and windy tropical disturbance that passed through bulked up into Tropical Storm Fay on Friday.
The National Hurricane Center designated the sixth tropical storm of the season Friday afternoon as the low pressure area moved westward out of the Mona Passage and onto the island of Hispaniola.
"The forecast track calls for Fay to cross large portions of Hispaniola and Cuba, which should limit intensification," according to a statement from NHC forecaster Jack Beven. "Significant strengthening is expected when the center emerges from the north coast of Cuba, although it is uncertain how well organized the storm will be at that time."
Model guidance late Friday was uncertain about the storm's path as it plowed westward toward Haiti, but Fay is expected to strengthen into a hurricane that could threaten the Gulf Coast of Florida by Monday.
The Virgin Islands took the brunt of the system's heavy rain and gusty winds in the waning hours of Thursday.
The tropical Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
