Latest Update on Hurricane Elsa
The latest update on Hurricane Elsa is here: the storm has weakened to Tropical Storm strength. Maximum sustained winds are at 70 mph. Elsa is projected to move through the mid-Atlantic and New England states. After landfall, it is expected to swipe northeast. But it may stall in Florida. The area in and around Tampa is expected to take a heavy hit. Thankfully, the storm is not yet a direct threat to the city.
Tropical Storm Elsa has become a hurricane
While the forecast shows little sign of major damage or flooding in Cuba, the country will remain under a hurricane watch or tropical storm warning as Elsa continues its journey to the northeast. The warning area covers the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and it also extends to Grenada, Guadeloupe, and the Bahamas. Earlier, Elsa appeared disconcertingly healthy at dawn. It showed a broad counterclockwise circulation, which is fueled by warm air in contact with the ocean. It was also very active, with winds gusting up to 65 mph.
Coastal Georgia and South Carolina will see the first impacts of Elsa, while the Florida Keys and the entire Gulf Coast are under a tropical storm watch. Elsa is likely to cause flooding and power outages in these areas, while the impact on the contiguous United States could begin Monday night. However, there are lingering concerns for more widespread damage, so residents from the central Gulf Coast should monitor the storm’s progress.
The storm began to weaken into a tropical storm on July 3 and then made landfall in Cuba on July 4. It then weakened and re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico early on July 6, and slammed into the Florida panhandle and the northwestern Georgia coast. Elsa was only a tropical storm early on July 6 and weakened rapidly as it moved northeast. It was considered a tropical hurricane early on July 7 while making landfall in Taylor County, Florida.
While the first Atlantic hurricane of the season usually develops around Aug. 10 in the Caribbean, Elsa has already ravaged several islands in the Caribbean, including Cuba. It has killed three people and has been downgraded to a tropical storm. At this point, it may be on the eastern coast of Florida and may be a threat to Louisiana. If Elsa hits Florida, there are many other areas in the US where the hurricane can make landfall.
Its maximum sustained winds have fallen to 70 mph
Tropical Storm Elsa is headed toward the Atlantic coast, with tropical storm warnings and watches being issued for coastal South Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey. It is currently sitting about 115 miles west-southwest of Brunswick, Georgia, and stretches farther south than Lake City and McAlpin, Florida. As it moves along the North Carolina coastline, Elsa is expected to weaken significantly. At this point, the National Hurricane Center estimates Elsa’s maximum sustained winds to be between 40 and 70 mph, with higher gusts.
While the storm has lost most of its strength, it still threatens to bring heavy rain and flooding to the Big Bend region. As of Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center has lifted tropical storm watches and warnings along Florida’s west coast. In Cuba, all storm warnings have been canceled, but Elsa is likely to continue to weaken and may hue up along the coast. It could make landfall as far south as Charlotte County. And it could bring wind and rain to the Big Bend and Southwest Florida.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that people along the Florida coastline should closely monitor Elsa’s progress and take evacuation notices seriously. Earlier, Elsa’s maximum sustained winds were 70 mph, but dropped to 70 mph overnight. Despite the decreased wind speeds, a hurricane warning remains in effect along the coast from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys.
Despite the decreased intensity, hurricane conditions could remain dangerous in the Florida Keys. Elsa’s maximum sustained winds are still expected to reach 70 mph before landfall. The storm is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area by Tuesday morning. After landfall, Elsa is expected to move northeast, swiping the Northeast. It will continue to weaken and produce heavy rain, though it may be no match for Hurricane Irma.
It is expected to regain strength over the next 24 hours
As it tracks through the Caribbean, Elsa is likely to increase in strength and intensity, bringing heavy rainfall to the area. The storm is expected to weaken slightly after crossing Cuba, but its track will likely increase rainfall amounts in Florida and Cuba, where it could reach 15 inches of rain. Elsa is expected to regain strength over the next 24 hours, and will likely strengthen once again over the next day or two.
In the meantime, conditions will improve for the storm’s development. The storm is expected to slow to 15 mph by Sunday morning, which will help it align itself vertically. Sea surface temperatures will rise to 30 degrees Celsius and wind shear will remain moderate at 10 to 20 knots. The SHIPS model gave Elsa an 8% chance to intensify to 35 mph on Saturday’s 12Z run. In general, forecasters expect Elsa to weaken only slightly through Sunday, though she could still generate large waves.
The Tampa Emergency Hotline is open for residents to report storm-related emergencies. This phone number will be open from 8am to 8pm today. Meanwhile, the Florida Emergency Management Center is available for assistance. The Tampa Emergency Hotline will remain open from 8am to 8pm. In case of a hurricane, residents should stay indoors or seek shelter in a safe place. However, it is highly unlikely that the hurricane will affect Florida. However, it will impact Florida as a tropical storm. The Florida Governor has declared a state of emergency in some counties, including the Florida Keys.
As Elsa continues to race across the Caribbean, it is expected to reach the western edge of the Bermuda High, which deflects storms toward Florida and Central America. If the Bermuda High is strong enough, Elsa may recur northward over the Greater Antilles and then turn toward Central America. The storm’s track guidance remains limited, but Elsa is expected to regain some strength over the next 24 hours.
It is expected to move through the mid-Atlantic and New England states
As Elsa continues its path through the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, it brings heavy rain, flooding and rip currents. The storm is expected to move into the northern Atlantic and will likely impact shores in the mid-Atlantic and New England states by Wednesday night. Elsa will move northeastward through the weekend, bringing with it less humid air and cooler temperatures.
The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the entire coast of Massachusetts. Elsa made landfall in Florida on Wednesday and is forecast to hit the New England states on Friday. Elsa will move northward and will brush eastern Long Island, New York, and the mid-Atlantic states. On Thursday, Elsa was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical rainstorm. The change in status is due to the cooler ocean water and air injected into the storm.
The storm will produce a steady stream of rain and flooding along portions of the Carolinas on Thursday and into the early part of Friday. Depending on where you live, you can expect up to two inches of rain along Interstate 95 and four to six inches inland. The tropics will remain quiet for seven to 14 days after Elsa has moved through the eastern coast.
Tropical Storm Elsa is on track to make landfall in Taylor County, Florida. It is expected to move inland through the Carolinas and south Georgia. By Friday night, it is expected to move into the New England area and Atlantic Canada. If Elsa isn’t stopped by the hurricane, it will continue to slam into the eastern United States.
It is forecast to dump 1-3 inches of rain
It is forecast to dump 1-3 inches of precipitation across the state, but not all areas will see that amount. Eastern areas are expected to see less than an inch of rain, while higher elevations to the north and west of the city may see up to 4 inches of precipitation. As the rain ends by Wednesday, skies will be partly sunny, but there is a chance of a narrow band of accumulating snow on the backside of the storm system between Alexandria and St. Cloud.
The storm system is expected to move across the western United States on Monday night, dumping a few inches of rain. The heaviest rain will fall over Ventura County. The rain will become heaviest in Los Angeles County around 7 a.m. Tuesday, with street flooding and slippery roads likely. While the storm is not yet a tropical storm, it is a reminder that winter is here to stay.