Elsa expected to become a hurricane before landfall
Landfall expected over the northern Florida Gulf Coast
KZTV 10
and last updated 2021-07-06 17:37:35-04
Tropical storm Elsa has strengthened and is forecast to become a category 1 hurricane before making landfall in the northern Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday morning.
Here is the latest from the National Hurricane Center.
Elsa is moving toward the north near 10 mph, and a generally northward motion is expected through tonight. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected on Wednesday, followed by a faster northeastward motion by late Thursday. On the forecast track, Elsa will move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida later today through tonight. Elsa is forecast to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast Wednesday morning and then move across the southeastern United States through Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts, and Elsa is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall. Weakening will begin after Elsa moves inland by late Wednesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center. Buoy 42023 recently measured a peak 1-minute sustained wind of 67 mph (107 km/h) gusting to 78 mph (126 km/h). The estimated minimum central pressure is 998 mb (29.47 inches).