MIAMI -- A hurricane watch is in effect for Polk County until 8 p.m. Tuesday. A tropical storm wind watch is in effect for Okeechobee and Osceola counties through Tuesday evening.
Tropical Storm Fay is expected to gain force and could be near hurricane strength when it moves over Cuba late Sunday and zeros in on Florida.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Keys, where authorities ordered visitors to leave.
The center of the storm is 392 miles from Orlando International Airport.
Fay remains on its track to hit the Florida mainland by Tuesday. By the time the storm hits, it could be a Category 1 hurricane.
McCain On Fay
John McCain on Sunday was briefed on Tropical Storm Fay, which scuttled a political fundraiser.
McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, visited the Orange County Emergency Operations Center near Orlando shortly after flying from Long Beach, Calif. Speaking to a pool of reporters, he was optimistic that local and federal officials will work together if the storm strikes.
"The good news is, obviously, no state is better prepared or organized to deal with whatever comes this way than the state of Florida," McCain told reporters after his briefing.
McCain has long criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's reaction to Hurricane Katrina, which inundated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast. He blamed poor leadership in the storm's aftermath.
So far, there is no FEMA involvement, officials said.
McCain is scheduled to speak in Orlando on Monday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, followed by President Bush on Wednesday at the event.
The storm canceled a Sunday evening McCain fundraiser in Miami.
Gov. Crist Issues State Of Emergency
Gov. Charlie Crist has already declared a state of emergency, saying if an evacuation order is given, Floridians should be ready.
"Floridians should prepare now for the tropical storm. Anytime you have a storm nearing the straits or the gulf, all coastal residents need to pay close attention to its progress," Crist said in a press conference Saturday. "Floridians should review their plans and follow the guidance of your local emergency management."
"Plans to evacuate should include tens of miles, if not hundreds, if an evacuation order is determined," Crist added. "Have a destination in mind before one would hit the road, and make sure to register with your local emergency management office if you have special needs."
Crist will be in the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee Sunday to monitor the storm's progress.
The storm is expected to cross Cuba today, where hurricane watches are already in place.
School is scheduled to start Monday for many in Central Florida, but with the uncertainty of Tropical Storm Fay, those plans could change.
In Orange County, school district officials told News 13 they are waiting to see what the storm does Sunday to make any decisions.
School district officials in Seminole, Osceola and Brevard counties are also monitoring the storm's path before making any decisions.
News 13 is still awaiting word from Volusia, Flagler, Lake, Sumter, Marion and Polk county school officials to see what plans they may have.
Fay Kills 4 In Haiti, Dominican Republic
Flooding from Tropical Storm Fay led to the deaths of four people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic Saturday.
One man died Saturday in Haiti while trying to cross a river. No further information was immediately available.
In neighboring Dominican Republic, a woman, 34, drowned when a family tried to cross a swollen river in a car, civil defense agency director Luis Luna Paulino said. The bodies of her missing niece, 13, and nephew, 5, were found Saturday afternoon, but her husband swam to safety.
2 a.m. Tropical Storm Advisory
The center of Tropical Storm Fay was estimated near latitude 21.9 north, longitude 81.1 west or about 110 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba and about 180 miles south-southeast of Key West, Fla.
Fay is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph and a turn toward the north is expected during the next 1 to 2 days. On the forecast track, Fay is expected to cross western Cuba Monday morning and move near the Florida Keys Monday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible after the center crosses Cuba and Fay could be approaching hurricane strength when it nears the Florida Keys Monday night.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb or 29.56 inches.
Storm tides of 2 to 4 feet above normal are possible along the south coast of Cuba in the tropical storm warning area in areas of onshore winds. Tides of 2 to 4 feet above normal are possible in the Florida Keys in the warning area.
Isolated tornadoes are possible on Monday over the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula.
Fay is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over much of Cuba, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches.
These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible over Grand Cayman and over the central Bahamas. Heavy rain may begin to affect the Florida Keys and south Florida Monday. Rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches, with maximum amounts of 10 inches are possible for the Florida Keys and South Florida.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.
Track the paths of Tropical Storm Fay with our Hurricane Tracker and downloadable map, available at the News 13 Hurricane Center.
Need help getting ready for a hurricane? News 13 on Demand, Bright House Networks Digital Cable Channel 313 has a Hurricane Center filled with vital information on what you can do to prepare for a storm. In the Severe Weather section, News 13's meteorologists show you how to be safe when a storm strikes.
Comment on this story.