Hanna targets Bahamas, Cuba, Florida

MIAMI, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Hanna drifted south-southeast late Tuesday, advancing on the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

The storm was expected to turn toward the north or northwest early Wednesday after hours of little movement, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Forecasters predicted it would turn northwest and pick up speed later Wednesday, becoming stronger late Wednesday and Thursday, and possibly regaining hurricane strength.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the central and southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, while a tropical storm warning was posted for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

At 11 p.m., Hanna's center was about 65 miles southeast of Great Inagua Island in the eastern Bahamas and about 450 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, with sustained winds of 65 mph. Tropical storm winds extended 230 miles from the center.

"Hanna is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4-8 inches, with maximum isolated amounts of 12 inches, over the southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and eastern Cuba," the NHC warned. "Rainfall totals of 6-10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of up to 15 inches, are possible over Hispaniola where these rains could cause life-threatening mudslides and flash flooding."

The NHC also said dangerous rip currents along the southeastern U.S. coast were being generated by the hurricane.

The three-day track shows Hanna moving north off the Florida coast, with the possibility that it could come ashore.