Between the cash-hungry strip clubs, the prime-time Rick Scott speech, and the 50,000-plus conservatives and 20,000 protestors squaring off, Tampa is already going to be one insane circus from hell next week. The only thing that could possibly make the Republican National Convention better would be a raging hurricane outside.
Which is exactly what might happen! It's still a long way off, but a storm set to soon become Tropical Storm Isaac has all the makings of a hurricane that could threaten South Florida just in time for the GOP love-in.
It's really tough to forecast a storm's path and intensity out by a week, but the computers have taken a liking to pounding Tampa on Monday -- right when the RNC begins.
"The past three (computer simulations) beginning on Sunday afternoon have all taken 94L over Florida during the August 27 - 29 time frame, which I'm sure is making organizers of the Republican National Convention uncomfortable," writes Dr. Jeff Masters at the Weather Underground.
For now, the storm remains a tropical depression called 94L. NOAA expects it to reach tropical storm strength by the time it hits Puerto Rico on Thursday, and the ocean temperatures and wind shears are favorable for the storm to keep building into a hurricane.
If the storm does cross Hispanola and Cuba, though, the mountainous islands could disrupt the storm before it reaches Florida.
Still, if you're headed to the RNC, you may want to pack a rather sturdy umbrella.
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