Now a Category 1 hurricane, Isaias approaches the Bahamas

As a tropical storm, Isaias caused flooding and landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico on Thursday, and now, it's a hurricane expected to pass over the southeastern Bahamas early Friday morning and move near South Florida on Saturday.

Isaias knocked down trees and power lines in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where at least 35 people had to be rescued from floodwaters, The Associated Press reports. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Isaias became a hurricane late Thursday night, and is a Category 1 with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It is the second hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season, and about 70 miles east-southeast of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas.

Hurricane warnings have been issued in the Bahamas for Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama, and Bimini. Last year's Hurricane Dorian caused massive destruction in Abaco and Grand Bahama, and authorities there said crews have been working to remove debris left over from that storm. Some residents whose homes were destroyed by Dorian are still living in tents, and they have been encouraged to find shelter elsewhere.

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