Hurricane Elsa Gains Strength as it Prepares for Landfall on Hispaniola, Hurricane Watch Issued for Cuba
By Space Coast Daily // July 2, 2021
Hurricane Elsa is category 1 hurricane with 85 mph max sustained winds
ABOVE VIDEO: Hurricane Elsa Update – Category 1 Hurricane Elsa has formed in the Atlantic. Space Coast Daily’s Zach Clark reports on the latest with Hurricane Elsa and how it could impact Brevard County next week.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Hurricane Elsa is continuing to show signs Friday night of not letting up after the latest report shows category 1 hurricane picking up strength as it prepares to make landfall on Hispaniola on Saturday.
Hurricane Elsa is a category 1 hurricane after registering 85 mph max sustained winds.
Elsa is a very fast moving storm, moving to the west-northwest at 30 mph.
A Hurricane Warning has been issued a Hurricane Warning for the Southern coast of Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti, Southern portion of Haiti from Port Au Prince to the southern border with the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
By Sunday, Elsa is forecast to move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba.
Elsa is moving toward the west-northwest near 30 mph (48 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Saturday.
A decrease in forward speed is expected Saturday night and Sunday, followed by a turn toward the northwest Sunday night or Monday.
Elsa’s forecast track will move across the eastern Caribbean Sea tonight across the central Caribbean Sea on Saturday, and move near the southern coast of Hispaniola late Saturday or Saturday night.
By Sunday, Elsa is forecast to move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba, and move near portions of central and western Cuba Sunday night and Monday.
South Florida is expected to feel the impact by late Monday afternoon into Monday night.
Brevard County is within the cone of uncertainty of Elsa, meaning the potential direct path of Elsa could take system over the area when it inside the cone.
Brevard County is expected to be impacted by Tuesday afternoon heading into Tuesday evening.
A storm surge will raise water levels above normal tide levels by as much as the following amounts in areas of onshore flow within the hurricane watch and warning areas:
Southern coast of Cuba…4 to 6 feet
Southern coast of Hispaniola…2 to 4 feet
Jamaica…1 to 3 feet
Elsa has become the first hurricane on the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season as it approaches the Lesser Antilles.
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