Washington (ECN) - Tropical storm Fay was fully expected to turn into a hurricane through Sunday night, with residents getting ready as the storm is set to slam into southern Florida.

Many schools were closed, with shelters getting ready to help those in need in the Florida Keys.

Many were trying to get out of south Florida as of Sunday evening, trying to get as far away from the storm as possible.

Fay is believed to hit the Florida Keys and south Florida hard on late Monday and early Tuesday.

It may either be a strong tropical storm, or a hurricane by the time it hits.

This is the sixth storm of the 2008 Atlantic season, and continues to pick up momentum as it nears land.