ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Storm Elsa formed early Thursday in the Atlantic and its possible track includes Central Florida.
Elsa continues to move very quickly to the west.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH EYEWITNESS NEWS FOR LIVE UPDATES <<<
The storm has sustained winds at around 45 mph and is moving west-northwest at around 29 mph.
Storms that move fast have a hard time getting stronger, so rapid strengthening is not expected.
READ: Surfside condo collapse: Death toll rises to 18; 2 children identified
Central Florida is currently monitoring the storm to see what will happen in the next 36 hours.
The path the storm will take will become much clearer in the next few days.
Latest track is a basically an extension of the old one. We are in MONITOR MODE: 36 hours of a wait and see. Then, we'll know if this will be near us. Live on 9! pic.twitter.com/UgmfyvNRC6
— Brian Shields, WFTV (@BrianWFTV) July 1, 2021
Elsa’s forecast model still has a high uncertainty in both strength and track into next week.
Elsa is now the fifth named storm of the 2021 hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Elsa northeast of South America, headed in the direction of Barbados and The Caribbean. For Florida, as @BrianWFTV says, we're in monitor mode. pic.twitter.com/EfkpeXrISB
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) July 1, 2021
The storm is forecast to pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday, the National Hurricane Center reported.
It will then move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday and move near the southern coast of Hispaniola on Saturday.
READ: 2021 hurricane names: Is yours on list?
While there’s lower than normal confidence in the track and intensity forecast as the cone itself gets closer to Florida, there is still a risk of storm surge, wind and rain impacting parts of South Florida and the Florida Keys early next week.
READ: Tropical Storm versus Category 1 Hurricane: What’s the difference?
Click here to download the free news and weather apps to receive updates on your mobile device or smart TV.
0 of 7
Watch “Calm Before the Storm,” Channel 9′s hurricane special, below:
©2021 Cox Media Group
