As Tropical Storm Isaias lashes Florida with heavy rain and gusty winds Sunday, officials in New York and New Jersey are preparing for the storm's possible arrival in tri-state area.

New York City area residents should be prepared for heavy winds and rain from Isaias Tuesday, Governor of New York State Andrew Mark Cuomo warned.

The storm was off the Florida coast Sunday and its maximum sustained winds had declined to 100 kilometers per hour (kph). But it could batter much of the East Coast this week as the system is forecast to track up or just off the Atlantic seaboard.

Cuomo on Sunday said models project it will move over the New York City area, including Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley, as early as Monday night but primarily on Tuesday. Some areas could see up to three inches (0.08 meters) of rain and 80 kph gusts.

The governor said people living in flood-prone areas should be getting ready for the storm. The state was making sure generators, pumps and high-water vehicles were ready, he said.

"We're preparing. Local governments should be preparing," Cuomo added.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for Long Island Sound, according to the National Hurricane Center, meaning tropical storm force winds are possible. The National Weather Service has also issued flash flood watches for parts of the New York City area.

The Weather Service said Sunday that the highest wind threats from Isaias are late Tuesday afternoon and into the evening in central and eastern Long Island and eastern Connecticut, with sustained winds of up to 72 kph and gusts of up to 97 kph possible.

Over the weekend, Isaias brought heavy rain and flooding to Florida as officials kept a close eye on the storm while dealing with surging cases of the coronavirus.

The storm had weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon, and its most damaging winds remained offshore.

(With input from AP)