Isaac downgraded to tropical storm as it hits Newfoundland

The Canadian Hurricane Centre has downgraded Hurricane Isaac to a Tropical Storm, just prior to Isaac’s sweeping past Newfoundland on Oct. 2.”Isaac has weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm this morning,” the Hurricane Centre announced in a storm bulletin posted at 11 a.m. on Oct. 2. “The tropical storm continues racing towards Newfoundland and should cross the Avalon Peninsula [the southeastern region of Newfoundland] this afternoon, where a tropical storm warning remains in effect.”Isaac is a very small storm and its effects may not be felt across the entire Avalon. Accordingly, we no longer expect tropical storm force winds in regions beyond the Avalon Peninsula.”Originally, the centre had predicted Isaac’s trail would cut across the Newfoundland regions of Clarenville, Bonavista Peninsula, Terra Nova and Burin Peninsula. But the centre cancelled its tropical storm watches for these areas.Once a Category 1 hurricane as it formed in the Atlantic Ocean, Isaac has weakened considerably, the Canadian Hurricane Centre reported. The National Hurricane Centre in Florida noted Isaac’s sustained winds prior to sweeping Newfoundland were near 60 mp-h, and up to 95 mp-h with higher gusts.