Tropical Storm Elsa Slows Down & Brings Strong Winds/Rain To Florida Keys

TS Elsa 11am Tues

Photo: NHC

Tropical Storm Elsa continues to put out maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, as it moves West Northwest.

The storm is moving slower than it was at the earlier update, at 10 miles per hour. Elsa is 65 miles WNW of Key West and 215 miles South of Tampa as of 11 a.m.

Tropical storm force winds and heavy rainfall is being felt over the Keys.

The maximum winds are expected to increase slightly before the storm makes landfall tomorrow morning on the northern Gulf Coast of Florida. Therefore, a Hurricane Watch remains in effect for portions of the state's west coast.

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...24.9N 82.8W

ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM WNW OF KEY WEST FLORIDA

ABOUT 215 MI...345 KM S OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 340 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB...29.74 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Cuba has discontinued all warnings for Cuba.

The Tropical Storm Watch along the coast of the Florida panhandle

from Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass, Florida, has been

discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* West coast of Florida from Bonita Beach to the Aucilla

River, including Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* The Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas

* West coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to Ochlockonee River

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Egmont Key to the Steinhatchee River, Florida

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* West of the Aucilla River to the Ochlockonee River, Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Mouth of St. Marys River to South Santee River, South Carolina

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was

located near latitude 24.9 North, longitude 82.8 West. Elsa is

moving toward the north-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h) and a

generally northward motion is expected today and tonight. A turn

toward the north-northeast is expected on Wednesday, followed by a

faster northeastward by late Thursday. On the forecast track, Elsa

will continue to pass near the Florida Keys this morning, and move

near or over portions of the west coast of Florida later today

through tonight. On Wednesday morning, Elsa is forecast to make

landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast and then move

across the southeastern United States through Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts.

Slow strengthening is forecast through tonight, and Elsa could be

near hurricane strength before it makes landfall in Florida.

Weakening is expected after Elsa moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km)

from the center. A C-MAN station at Sand Key, Florida, recently

measured a peak 1-minute sustained wind of 56 mph (90 km/h) gusting

to 64 mph (104 km/h). The Key West International Airport also

recently measured a peak sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) gusting

to 59 mph (95 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

Click Here for more information from the National Hurricane Center.


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