Fay strengthens, could hit north Florida as hurricane Thursday

Tropical Storm Fay could hit Jacksonville Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Fay did not weaken over land today as expected and instead is now as strong as it has ever been, having formed an eyewall-like feature as it crossed Lake Okeechobee and tipping its wind field at 63 mph.

This latest forecast calls for Fay to cross into the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday and re-emerge with wind speeds of 74 mph near Jacksonville on Thursday around 2 p.m..

A hurricane watch has been issued for the north Florida coast and the southern coast of Georgia.