Tropical Storm Isaias [ees-ah-EE-ahs] strengthened slightly Sunday (August 2nd) as it remained about 50 miles off the eastern coast of Florida, bringing heavy rain and some flooding to the state's Atlantic cost. The storm is heading north-northwest and is expected to be near hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Carolinas today. After that it's on course to swirl up along the east coast of the mid-Atlantic states, and Tropical Storm watches have been posted along the Eastern Seaboard as far north as Rhode Island.