FYI… The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, FL, has upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Five to Tropical Storm “Elsa” overnight. As of 5am AST, Elsa had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving west-northwest at 25 mph. Tropical Storm conditions are expected in portions of the Windward and southern Leeward Islands by early Friday morning. A Tropical Storm Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning have been issued for these Islands, respectively.

While there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the long-range models, interests in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, the Turks and Caicos, southeastern Bahamas, and southern Florida should begin preparations for, at minimum, tropical storm force winds, and potentially, sustained winds reaching up to 58 mph over the next 2 to 3 days, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding also possible. There is also a possibility that Elsa could enter the southeastern Gulf of Mexico at some point over the next 5 to 7 days. Again, there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the long-term forecast track and intensity of Tropical Storm Elsa at this time. - Sid Sperry

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