HOLT, Fla., July 30, 2020—Tropical Storm Isaias is now expected to become a hurricane sometime Friday.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Isaias to strengthen into a weak hurricane sometime during the next 24-to-36 hours before it reaches the east coast of Florida.

Hurricane warnings have been posted for the Bahamas; tropical storm watches have been posted along the southeast coast of Florida.

A U.S. landfall is not predicted at this time, although the Carolinas are in the cone of uncertainty.

Tropical wave

Much further east, the tropical wave just off the coast of Africa now has a medium 40 percent chance of further development.

The NHC gives this system a small window of opportunity to become a tropical depression through Friday before environmental conditions become less favorable for development.