newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

About 50,000 guests are expected to visit Tampa for the Republican National Convention, and Tropical Storm Isaac may be preparing to greet them.

Isaac is expected to turn into a Category I hurricane by Thursday or Friday, but its future path is uncertain. Officials are monitoring the situation.

The tropical storm system was approaching the Dominican Republic and Haiti Thursday morning, according to forecasters. According to an Associated Press report, Isaac was 225 miles south-southeast of Puerto Rico, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. It was moving west at 13 mph.

Most prediction models are saying that Isaac will move to the east, but meteorologist Max Golembo told ABC News that a "very important model" has Isaac moving directly into Tampa.

“It's going to be a wind and rain event in Tampa," Golembo said. "We don't know if it's going to be damaging, cancelling the convention or just delaying it."

The Washington Post recalled that Hurricane Gustav forced the Republican National Convention to cancel some events at their convention in Minneapolis after it hit the coast of Louisiana in 2008.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said he can order an evacuation of his city if Isaac strengthens. "I'm always prepared to do so, and I'm obligated to do so if there is the likelihood of a direct hit," he said to Fox News.

But he said the Republican National Committee decides whether the convention moves forward. At this point he said, "We are full throttle heading for the opening gavel."

RNC planners said they have contingency plans in place to ensure the safety of those attending the convention. The last hurricane that hit Tampa was Jeanne in 2004.