Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to become a hurricane on Friday

Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the Atlantic late Wednesday. Screen capture courtesy of the National Hurricane Center/Website

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and was moving east at a speed of 12 miles per hour.

Meteorologists expect Isaac to gain speed over the next few days as it takes an east-northeast direction and could become a hurricane by Friday, the NHC said.

There were no watches or warnings, but forecasters warn that waves caused by Isaac affecting Bermuda could spread to the Azores this weekend.

“These waves are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult your local weather office products,” the NHC said.

Isaac could see a gradual worsening in the next few days, followed by a gradual weakening, it said.

Isaac emerged as Florida braced for Hurricane Helene, a dangerous and potentially deadly Category 4 storm that made landfall in the state’s Big Bend region late Thursday evening, devastating the coast with winds of 140 mph and at least one million people left without power in a handful of states.

A state of emergency applies in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties.