Posted on 07/01/2021 2:41:54 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Tropical Storm Elsa has developed in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, about 2500 miles east of the U.S. mainland. Interests in Florida should monitor updates to the forecast for this system, but it is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts could occur there next week given the uncertainty in the long-range forecast.Elsa is moving at a rapid clip, which may limit strengthening in the short term. Also, the potential interaction of the storm with the mountainous land masses of the Greater Antilles later in the forecast period could disrupt the circulation somewhat.
Mash the graphics below to enlarge. All links and images are self-updating.
FL Radar Loop with Storm Forecast Track
Tropical Tidbits by Levi Cowan
Elsa is melting. Hooray!
Just windy here at the beach (30kt sustained or so). Light rain.
Depending on the radar, it could be running to the edge of its range... that said, it is a lopsided storm with little change to get re-organized or strengthen at this point. It’ll still be a rough next few hours, though.
Fox 35 “Elsa has maxed out for it’s intensity and will be a tropical storm upon landfall at about 8 am or thereafter. Central Florida will have higher winds from squalls from about 2-5am.”
Ch. 6 (clickorlando.com) out of Orlando says dry air is being sucked into the storm and the hurricane hunter planes found low winds which should have downgraded the storm but the decision was made to leave it a hurricane in case it ramps up again as they feel the hurricane hunter may have missed the max winds by 6 miles.
Hurricane clips in the attic are a good start.
I just woke up. Tornado warnings now taking place in Lake, Marion counties right now. Central Florida now getting the worst of Elsa. A feeder band is now just crossing I-4 and Orlando metro. Wind here is 34 mph. Elsa is now 65 mph moving at 14 mph.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: the Mouth of St. Marys River, GA
to Little River Inlet, South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for the coasts of NC and VA from
Duck, NC to Chincoteague, VA, and for the Chesapeake Bay south of
New Point Comfort.
500 AM ET Update
-------------------------------
About 50 MI SSW of Cedar Key FL
About 70 MI WNW of Tampa FL
Max Sustained Winds...65 MPH
Moving...N at 14 MPH
Minimum Pressure...1004 MB
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.
On/Off Hurricane List Mash Here--> 
Some of the inland counties have received 9+ inches of rain.
15,000 customers in Tampa without power per WFTV. Tornado threat will be increasing over the next 4 hours. Feeder band extending from Ft. Myers into central Fla. crossing I-4 right now. Rain is coming down harder now here where I am just north of Orlando.
rain and minor winds now starting in suwannee county...
We have had rain here every day now for about 3 weeks. Now we are getting major rain. No wonder they anticipate flooding.
A strong squall line tracked N through Pinellas Co. last hour in synch with the big inland squall line.
Inland FL Peninsula appears to be receiving the worst of Elsa. There are about 6000 linemen at the ready to restore electricity where needed.
I’ll trade ya....we’ve had no substantial rain going on 4 months....one brief thunderstorm since the end of march is all....
Inland gusty winds with saturated ground is a recipe for downed trees.
Wow! That is a long time! Prior to this we had 92 degrees every day for 2-3 weeks with no rain. The grass was turning black; So I know how you feel.
All quiet here on the Space Coast.......Temp is 78......no rain
I’m glad you are doing ok there. I was worried about you last night when you went quiet.
Tornado warning for Alachua county.
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