Isaac is close to the Florida Keys and Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have followed Florida in declaring states of emergency.

 

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and oil and gas production is affected¹ by a storm that has already killed at least six people in Haiti.

 

The Republican Party has delayed by a day the start of its convention.

 

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has cancelled his visit to the Republican national convention in the Florida city of Tampa and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal may do the same, as they prepare emergency responses in their states.

 

 

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that at 00:00 GMT on Monday, Isaac had wind speeds of 105km/h, and could reach hurricane force in the next 24 hours.

 

Fed by the warm waters of the Gulf² of Mexico, Isaac is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 170km/h, and make landfall on Tuesday or Wednesday, somewhere between Florida and Louisiana.

 

There is also a chance it may hit New Orleans on the seventh anniversary of the devastating³ Hurricane Katrina.

 

Isaac is also a large storm - it could bring significant damage to areas within 200 miles of its centre.

 

The Florida Keys are already experiencing rain and strong winds.

 

Residents have boarded up windows and put down sandbags.

 

A steady stream of cars has carried people north along the sole road linking the Keys to the Florida mainland.

 

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled in and out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and other southern Florida airports.

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