MIAMI-
Hurricane Isaac weakened slightly as it moved north in the Atlantic on Sunday, and a tropical storm watch was issued for southeastern Newfoundland, forecasters said.
At 11 p.m. EDT, Isaac had top sustained winds near 75 mph, down from 80 mph earlier in the day, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It became the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic season on Saturday.
Isaac, the ninth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was centered about 630 miles south-southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland, forecasters said.
It was moving north near 26 mph, and a turn to the northeast was expected in the next day. The storm also was forecast to speed up and begin weakening in the next 24 hours.
Meteorologist Daniel Brown said southeastern Newfoundland could begin experiencing tropical storm conditions with winds gusting near hurricane strength beginning Monday afternoon.
“They will get some wind and rain,” Brown said.
The Canadian Meteorological Service issued a tropical storm watch for Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, including the cities of Cape Race and St. Johns. Tropical storms have winds of at least 39 mph.
Brown said Isaac was not as big or strong as Florence, whose remnants brought 100 mph wind gusts and bands of rain to southern Newfoundland on Sept. 14.
Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles from Isaac’s center, while tropical storm-force winds extend up to 175 miles from it.
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
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