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Tropical Storm Elsa Forms in the Atlantic, Could Impact Florida by Next Week

By  //  July 1, 2021

Elsa is carrying 45 mph max sustained winds

National Hurricane Center has upgraded a system located about 700 miles east of the Windward Islands to Tropical Storm Elsa on Thursday. (NHC Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – National Hurricane Center has upgraded a system located about 700 miles east of the Windward Islands to Tropical Storm Elsa on Thursday.

Elsa is a relatively fast-moving storm as it moves to the west at 28 mph and is expected to move even faster in the 36 hours as it begins to turn west-northwest.

Latest report shows Elsa is carrying 45 mph max sustained winds.

National Hurricane Center has declared a Tropical Storm Warning for the following islands: Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

As of Thursday morning, the system is not forecasted to become a hurricane as the system battles drier air and cooler ocean temperatures through Tuesday. However, conditions are subject to change this time of year as temperatures begin to increase and climates begin to become more saturated in moisture.

Elsa is expected to strengthen in the next 48 hours.

Elsa is a relatively fast-moving storm as it moves to the west at 28 mph and is expected to move even faster in the 36 hours as it begins to turn west-northwest. This 8-hour time lapse show Elsa becoming more organized about 780 east-southeast of the Windward Islands. (NHC Image)

To be declared a Category 1 hurricane, the system needs to reach 74 max sustained winds.

With the current track of Elsa, South Florida could be impacted by Tropical Storm Elsa early Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Elsa will pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday, move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday and Friday night, and move near the southern coast of Hispaniola on Saturday,” said a National Hurricane Center spokesperson.

“By early Sunday, Elsa is forecast to move near portions of eastern Cuba.”

Elsa is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches with maximum totals of 10 inches on Friday across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands, including Barbados. Over Puerto Rico, rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with localized amounts of 5 inches are expected Friday into Saturday.

This rain may lead to isolated flash flooding and mudslides.

The next complete report will be at 5 p.m. ET

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