Tampa Bay Under Tropical Storm Watch As TS Elsa Moves Closer

TAMPA BAY, FL —A tropical storm watch has now been extended along the west coast of Florida from Flamingo north to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, as the now-downgraded Tropical Storm Elsa is forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Additionally, a storm surge watch has been issued for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River with estimates of storm surge ranging from 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels.

Meanwhile, the Florida Keys from Craig Key west to the Dry Tortugas is under a tropical storm warning.

Stay tuned to Patch for Tropical Storm Elsa updates.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area during the next 48 hours while a tropical storm warning means the area will experience these conditions without 24 hours. A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 48 hours.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said there is also a risk of tropical storm conditions, storm surge and heavy rainfall along the northern Florida Gulf coast Tuesday night through Wednesday and the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday.

The hurricane center said Elsa could bring isolated flash flooding, urban flooding and minor river flooding throughout Florida and coastal Georgia Monday through Wednesday.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Tropical Storm Elsa was moving northwest at 14 mph. On the forecast track, Elsa will continue to move near or over eastern Cuba Sunday evening and approach central Cuba Sunday night and early Monday and head toward the Florida Straits on Monday, passing near the Florida Keys early Tuesday.

Current maximum sustained winds are 60 mph with higher gusts and tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 90 miles from the center. To be considered a hurricane, winds must be at least 74 mph. Slight restrengthening is possible after Elsa moves over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

There will be 2 to 4 inches of rain with some localized rainfall of up to 6 inches in the Florida Keys, the Florida peninsula and coastal Georgia Monday through Wednesday.

Tornadoes are possible across southern Florida Monday afternoon and Monday night into Tuesday.

Swells generated by Elsa will increase near the Florida Keys and south Florida on Monday and spread northward along the west coast of Florida Monday night and Tuesday.

See related stories:

• Upgraded To Hurricane Elsa Friday, All Florida Lies In Path
• Track Of Tropical Storm Elsa Could Impact Florida's West Coast
• Coast Guard Declares Port Condition Whiskey For Port Of Tampa
• Pinellas Officials Monitor Tropical Storm Elsa, Urge Preparation
• Pasco Opens Self-Serve Sandbag Sites Ahead Of Hurricane Elsa
• Tropical Storm Watch In Effect For Keys As Hurricane Elsa Nears