The outer rain bands from Tropical Storm Elsa are hitting Florida Monday evening as the main part of the storm moves across Cuba. The storm has weakened slightly over land, initially making landfall with winds of about 65 mph, after a few hours they had slowed to 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that heavy rains will impact the Cayman Islands and Cuba on Monday, resulting in “significant flooding and mudslides” over Cuba. Jamaica is expected to see an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain with scattered flash flooding and mudslides.
Elsa is expected to move over the northern edge of Cuba overnight before gaining some strength and making landfall again on the west coast of Florida.
Weather experts believe Elsa will hit the Florida Keys, the Florida peninsula, and southern Georgia Monday through Wednesday. The NHC says heavy rainfall may result in isolated flash, urban, and minor river flooding.
Tropical Storm warnings and storm surge warnings are in effect for portions of the Florida Keys and southwestern Florida, up the western coast of the state for Tuesday.
The NHC says there’s also a risk of tropical storm conditions and storm surge impacts along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday and Thursday. The NHC says heavy rains across Coastal South Carolina and North Carolina may result in isolated flash and urban flooding mid to late week.