WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Although Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to track to our west, we will feel effects from the storm Monday and Tuesday. Rain squalls and gusty winds are forecast with a slight chance for an isolated tornado.
Elsa is strengthening some just south of Cuba. It may strengthen a little more before crossing over the country today. Then it will weaken as it will encounter the high terrain of Cuba and some shear once it gets into the Straits/Gulf of Mexico.
By Tuesday it will be just about due west of us, moving up the west coast of Florida then re-curving into the state north of Tampa and running along the eastern seaboard through Friday.
For us we will see an increase in squally weather today, tonight, and tomorrow. We will see the first bands come in today, with just isolated windy showers at first, then picking up some this evening.
Tomorrow the storm will be closest, so off and on squalls are possible, however if the storm consolidates more that may be all confined to the west coast (one of the models showing this).
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
On the other hand ,whenever we get storms to come from the south and move along the west coast like this there is a possibility for a band to set up somewhere and not move, dumping a whole bunch of rain. So we have to keep an eye on that. Still lots of uncertainty with our local effects.
Rain chances stay high through the end of the week with a flow of tropical moisture continuing but the storm will be gone.
WPTV First Alert Chief Meteorologist Steve Weagle said the probability of seeing tropical-storm-force winds in our area remains low, less than 15%.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and Havana
- Jamaica
- The Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas, and Santiago de Cuba
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
- The Cuban province of Artemisa
- The Florida Keys from east of Craig Key to Ocean Reef
- Florida Bay
- West coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Anclote River
RELATED: Why Elsa is such an unusual system
