Fay May Hit Fla. as Hurricane

Tourists were ordered to evacuate the Florida Keys this morning, as Tropical Storm Fay, which has already killed six in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is expected to hit the Keys as soon as midnight tonight, the Miami Herald reports. With winds at 50mph and rising, Fay could be a Category 1 hurricane by the time it hits the Keys and heads for the west coast of the state, forecasters say.

Fay is likely to gain strength and could approach hurricane status as it crosses Cuba. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency ahead of Fay, which is the first storm to seriously threaten South Florida this season. (More tropical storms stories.)