Florida Keys now under tropical storm watch as weak but wet Fred approaches

The Florida Keys and a swath of Southwest Florida were placed under a tropical storm watch Thursday as weak but very wet Tropical Depression Fred continued to skirt the north coast of Cuba.

Fred, though ragged and “poorly disorganized,” was expected to regain tropical storm strength as it crosses the Florida Straits Friday. But it’s main threat to South Florida this weekend will be heavy rains, with the bulk of it expected Saturday.

The National Hurricane Center, in its 8 p.m. advisory Thursday, said Fred was drenching Cuba and Hispaniola on Thursday and was expected to pass over the Florida Keys sometime Saturday.

Fred is about 240 miles southeast of the Southern Andros Island, Bahamas, and about 485 miles east-southeast of Key West, Florida. It is moving west-northwest at 7 mph with 35 mph maximum sustained winds.

The hurricane center issued a tropical storm watch earlier in the day for the Florida Keys, from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, and Southwest Florida, from Bonita Beach to Ocean Reef, including Florida Bay.

For now, the storm appears to be mainly an inconvenience for South Floridians and visitors but the flood threats were serious enough that governments and businesses were taking precautions.

City leaders in Miami and Miami Lakes announced Thursday they were giving out sandbags to residents, to help tame possible flooding. Miami-Dade School Board Member Lubby Navarro postponed Saturday’s back-to-school backpack giveaway.

Monroe County suggested people staying in boats, campgrounds and trailers hunker down in safer structures. Key West’s Lobsterfest was slated to continue — but Saturday’s popular street fair had been canceled because of the expected rains.

“For those in town for the festival,” organizers noted in an advisory, “there is still plenty of lobster available to be had on Duval Street.”

What can South Florida and the Keys expect from Fred? Details on rain, wind, flooding

Also on Thursday, the hurricane center noted a small area of low pressure deep in the Atlantic Ocean that is expected to become another tropical depression by the weekend. The weather system is about 1,100 miles east of the Lesser Antilles headed west and should reach the Leeward Islands late Saturday or Sunday, the hurricane center said. If the depression becomes a storm, it would be named Grace.

As for Fred, the rugged terrain of Hispaniola took a toll on the storm, the hurricane center noted on Thursday morning. Heavy rainfall was still pounding Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with some reports of flooding in Santo Domingo. The Associated Press reported that over 30,000 people in the Dominican Republic were without electricity, and overflowing rivers forced the closing of part of an aqueduct system to shut down.

Located in the waters between Haiti, eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas, Fred slowed slightly and was moving toward the west-northwest at about 12 miles per hour. Its maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph with higher gusts.

The forecast calls for Fred to pass over the Florida Keys on Saturday, entering the Gulf of Mexico as it heads toward another possible landfall in the Panhandle early next week. In his analysis, forecaster Jack Beven noted that wind shear — the upper-level winds that can prevent a storm from gathering strength — don’t bode well for Fred.

“The shear is expected to persist during the next day or so, and this combined with the current disorganization of the system should prevent significant strengthening during that time,” Beven wrote in his 5 p.m. advisory.

Still, officials in South Florida said they were tracking the system closely, as the state’s governor has again suggested residents “review their disaster plans.”

City of Miami leaders began preparing for heavy rainfall, announcing that they will begin distributing sandbags at noon Friday at Legion Park, 6447 NE Seventh Ave., and Grapeland Park, 1550 NW 37 Ave.

“We are expecting flooding in low-lying areas and our resiliency and public works department has already positioned mobile pumps,” said Mayor Francis Suarez during a press conference Thursday. “All our pump stations have been reviewed and, thankfully, are fully operational.”

Temporary pumps are being moved to some of the city’s most flood-prone areas, including Morningside, Fairview, Brickell, Mary Brickell Village and Northeast 23rd Street in Edgewater. Residents are asked not to put out bulky waste or trim trees in the next few days.

Businesses were also watching the weather reports with optimism.

Golfers at the Miami Springs golf course haven’t canceled yet in droves for Saturday, said pro shop employee Jonathan Haider. “Some of them think it’s not going to come,” Haider said.

At Hog Heaven Sports Bar and Grill in Islamorada, manager J.R. Canto was expecting fewer tourists, but believes locals will still pack the spot because it has an indoor dining area. The rainfall hadn’t stopped plans for a live band and a DJ over the weekend.

“We’ll still be pumping out a disco club kind of vibe, late night,” Canto said. “Fog machines, and stuff like that. It’ll be a nice little vibe.”