Isidore expected to reach hurricane strength
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Satellite image of Tropical Storm Isidore taken Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. EDT.
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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Cuba has issued a hurricane warning for the central and western parts of the country as a strengthening Tropical Storm Isidore moved through the Caribbean.
"Isidore is expected to become a hurricane before it reaches the south coast of Cuba" on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane center.
Isidore dumped heavy rain on Jamaica on Wednesday and began its assault on the Cayman Islands, the hurricane center said.
At 2 a.m. EDT Thursday, Isidore was centered 105 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, sometimes gusting higher, moving to the northwest at 9 mph.
The storm's center was moving away from Jamaica, but conditions were slow to improve because most of the heavy rain and wind are to the east of Isidore's center. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," according to the National Hurricane Center.
