Tropical Storm Elsa
• The center of Elsa is about 225 miles south-southeast of Key West, FL and moving to the northwest at 14 mph
• Elsa remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph.
• Elsa is expected to traverse Cuba today and experience some weakening. Late tonight, Elsa will move back over water and head north over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Little change in strength or some slight re-strengthening is possible after it emerges into the Gulf of Mexico.
• Landfall appears most likely in the eastern Big Bend of Florida. However, the storm will be lopsided with most of the rainfall to the east of the center impacting the entire West Coast as Elsa moves northward.
Florida Outlook:
• Do not focus on the exact forecast points as impacts will extend well outside of the forecast cone.
• Tropical Storm Warnings: Lower and Middle Keys (Dry Tortugas to Craig Key), Mainland Monroe, and coastal portions of Charlotte, Collier, and Lee
• Tropical Storm Watches: Upper Keys (Craig Key to Ocean Reef), Inland portions of Charlotte and Lee, and Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter, and Taylor
• Tropical storm force winds from 40-60 mph are possible, particularly in gusts with bands of showers/thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Storm Surge Watches: Bonita Beach to the Anclote River, or the coastal areas of Charlotte, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota County.
• Storm Surge values of 2-4’ are forecast in the watch area. Storm surge values of 1-2’ are expected across the Keys and Collier County.
• A widespread 3-5” of rain is possible across the eastern Big Bend, Northeast Florida, and West Coast over the next 3 days with localized totals of 6-8”. This could result in some urban or flash flooding early next week due to wet/saturated soils as well as some minor river flooding. Flood Watches may be needed.
• Saturated soils will make trees more susceptible to falling in strong winds.
• Dangerous rip currents are expected at most Florida beaches. Minor to moderate beach erosion is also possible along West Coast beaches with dune overwash.
• There is a threat of isolated tornadoes beginning this afternoon in South Florida and the Keys, spreading up the Peninsula through Tuesday.
