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Rita, which strengthened Sunday into a tropical storm, had sustained winds of 60 mph and is predicted to reach the Straits of Florida between the Keys and northern Cuba on Monday, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of at least 74 mph, said forecasters.
The entire Keys remain under a hurricane warning, with rainfall totals of 6 to 15 inches possible in the Keys, and 3 to 5 inches possible across southern Florida. Storm surges of 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels were predicted to batter the Keys.
Gov. Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida, which gives the state authority to oversee evacuations and activate the National Guard, among other powers. Officials issued evacuation orders Sunday for visitors – although not for residents – from the region, the Associated Press reports.
Despite the evacuation order, however, some hotels and restaurants in Key West remained open, and few businesses were boarded up Sunday night.
Rita is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which this year began on June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
