Storm clouds build offshore Florida

People in southern Florida have been making final preparations for Tropical Storm Isaac, as it barrels to the US.

Hundreds of flights and sailings have been cancelled, high winds have already caused power cuts and oil rigs are facing possible closures, reports the BBC.

Other US states are also on alert as forecasters warn that Isaac could strengthen further.

The storm has already caused havoc in the Caribbean, killing four in Haiti and bringing floods to Cuba.

The National Hurricane Centre said the storm was moving at about 20mph (30km/h) towards Florida's southern tip, and was expected to make landfall during the day on Sunday.

It was packing sustained winds of 65mph.

Residents of the Florida Keys, a thin island chain connected to the mainland by a single road, have been driving north all weekend.

They are well-used to the ritual of storm preparation, and many have boarded up their homes and businesses in preparation.

A few bars and restaurants stayed open late on Saturday to serve small groups of tourists and locals willing to risk the storm.

"We'll just catch every place that's open," holidaymaker Ted Lamarche told the AP news agency.

Hurricane watches were put in place along the coast lines of western Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and south-eastern Louisiana.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency to make sure emergency services would be ready when the storm made landfall.

The Republican Party has been forced to delay the start of its national convention in the western Florida city of Tampa because of the storm.

The party, which is due to formally nominate Mitt Romney as its presidential candidate during the meeting, said the convention would begin on Tuesday, a day later than planned.