Eye on the Tropics

Tropical Storm Elsa timeline: Wednesday, July 7

ORLANDO, Fla. — Elsa made landfall Wednesday along Florida’s northern Gulf Coast. Read live updates below:

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11 p.m. update

‘Multiple injuries’ were reported at Kings Bay RV park after a tornado touched down, according to sister station Action News Jax.

Read more here.

8:30 p.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa is over Southern Georgia, producing gusty winds along the Atlantic coast as well as very heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center tweeted.

7 p.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa weakened but still brought rain and wind to the Tampa Bay area.

See photos below:

5:30 p.m. update

As of 5 p.m., Tropical Storm Elsa has weakened again with 45 mph max winds and should weaken further to a tropical depression by tomorrow.

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said as it moves into Georgia, the storm is still bringing flooding to north Florida and south Georgia and a tornado risk remains around Jacksonville.

Waldenberger said he is still watching a heavy rain threat for our northern zones of Central Florida.

READ: Surfside condo collapse: Search shifts from rescue to recovery

3:25 p.m. update

The city of North Port in Sarasota County said water levels have receded since Tropical Storm Elsa dropped up to a foot of rain in the city causing some streets to flood.

City officials said there were no reports of damage to any homes or structures.

2 p.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa continues to weaken as of 2 p.m. with max winds now down to 50 mph as it moves over north Florida toward the Georgia state line.

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said trailing bands of rain will continue to bring us a risk of isolated heavy rain in spots for the rest of the day.

READ: What do you do with sandbags after a storm?

Marion County has recently been added to a large flood warning in the wake of Elsa that extends from the Tampa area all the way up into south Georgia.

11 a.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa is making landfall in Taylor County as it moves along the north Florida Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm’s winds remain near 65 mph.

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Elsa is forecast to move inland into Florida this afternoon.

Weather officials said the storm should then move across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States through Thursday.

Meteorologists believe Elsa will begin to weaken once it moves further inland.

9:30 a.m. update

Channel 9 reporter Q McCray said the rain has been on and off in Dunnellon.

He said police offers are making their rounds to make sure residents are alright.

So far, there is no damage reported in the area.

8:30 a.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis: no reports of major damage or reports of any fatalities. Utility crews are on stand-by to respond to areas impacted by power outages mostly in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Polk County.

8:15 a.m. update

Gov. Ron DeSantis is preparing to give an update on Tropical Storm Elsa.

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8 a.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa is approaching the northern Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

Elsa is expected to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast by late Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.

The storm’s winds remain near 65 mph, with higher gusts.

Forecasters said little change in strength is likely until the storm makes landfall.

The storm is forecast to weaken after it makes landfall later Wednesday.

Rain bands from Tropical Storm Elsa will continue to move northward across Central Florida.

7:10 a.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa brought heavy rain to Leesburg early Wednesday.

Weather officials reported 1.58 inches or rain. The previous record was 1.54 inches, which was set in 1982.

6:40 a.m. update

Channel 9 reporter Lauren Seabrook said there was no reports of wind damage or flooding in Lake County at this time.

A few power outages were reported.

The potential for a brief tornado is still possible until 8 a.m.

6:15 a.m. update

Tropical storm-force winds were reported in Lake County. There were also reports of at least 30 mph gusts in western Orange County.

In Marion County, officials said there are no reports of storm damage after tornado warnings were issued in the area early Wednesday.

5 a.m. update

Tropical Storm Elsa continues to move along Florida’s west coast.

The storm is forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. It is expected to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast by late Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.

The storm’s winds are nearing 65 mph.

The storm could fluctuate in intensity until it makes landfall, the National Hurricane Center said.

Elsa’s strongest rain band is moving through parts of Central Florida. The feeder band is bringing heavy rainfall and prompting some tornado warnings.

Tornado warnings were issued in Lake and Marion counties early Wednesday. All tornado warnings have expired at this time.

Elsa is forecast to weaken after it moves inland.

4:35 a.m. update

A tornado warning was issued in parts of Marion County. The warning includes parts of Micanopy, McIntosh and Orange Lake.

The warning is set to expire at 5 a.m.

4:20 a.m. update

A tornado warning was issued for parts of Lake County.

The warning includes areas in Taveres, Bassville Park and Sunnyside. The warning is set to expire at 4:45 a.m.

4:10 a.m. update

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Marion County, including Micanopy, Reddick and McIntosh.

The warning is set to expire at 4:30 a.m.

3 a.m. update

A tornado watch is in effect for Sumter, Polk, Marion, Osceola, Lake, Seminole and Orange counties until 8 a.m.

“Isolated tornadoes will be our biggest risk this morning, once some of the bands from Elsa move in.” meteorologist Brian Shields said.

Weather officials said conditions remain favorable for tornadoes in Elsa’s outer rain bands over the interior counties and far inland in Volusia County.

Some areas are already seeing gusty rain bands, Shields said.

A flood watch continues for Lake, Seminole, Orange and inland Volusia counties.

READ: Tropical Storm versus Category 1 Hurricane: What’s the difference?

Central Floridians can expect two to four inches of rain, with some areas getting as much as six inches of rain.

A tropical storm watch continues for Lake County. Weather officials said winds could reach 40 mph near Leesburg, Lady Lake and The Villages.

2 a.m. update

Elsa has weakened to a tropical storm again, the National Hurricane Center announced.

Heavy rain and gusty winds continue to spread across Southwest and West-Central Florida.

1:30 a.m. update

The tornado warning near Lacoochee, which included small section of Sumter County near Rerdell, expired on time at 1:30 A.M.

Channel 9 meteorologists will continue monitoring the storm as it moves toward Bushnell.

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1:20 a.m. update

A tornado warning has been issued for Sumter County.

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1 a.m. update

Bayshore Boulevard is just south of downtown Tampa, where the bay meets the city.

When storms come through, the wind starts churning that water and it crashes over the sea wall and pours into the street.

TIMELINE: Elsa LIVE updates July 6

With Hurricane Elsa, that hasn’t happened just yet.

Read the full story here.

12:30 a.m. update

Several tornado watches are in effect for several Central Florida counties.

A tornado watch is in effect for Orange County through 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Tornado watches are also in effect for Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Osceola, Sumter and Marion counties until 8 a.m.

READ: Tropical Storm Elsa: These school districts, universities will be closed tomorrow

Channel 9 Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said he is tracking more rotation in squalls in the Polk/Sumter County area.

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Watch “Calm Before the Storm,” Channel 9′s hurricane special, below:

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

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