Rain, wind from Tropical Storm Elsa possible in Carolinas this week. Here’s the latest
UPDATE: This story will not be updated after Monday. The most recent information on Tropical Storm Elsa’s path and forecast can be found here.
The North and South Carolina coasts are expected to see impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa later this week.
Elsa, which was downgraded from a hurricane over the weekend, was located 30 miles east of Havana, Cuba, and 115 miles south of Key West, Florida, as of 8 p.m. Monday. The storm was moving northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
Tropical storm-force winds, which range from 39 mph to 73 mph, extend up to 70 miles from the storm’s center.
Coastal North Carolina and South Carolina could see tropical storm conditions — including strong wind, rain, flooding and storm surge — on Wednesday and Thursday if the storm continues on its current path.
Tropical storm-force winds could reach South Carolina as early as 8 a.m. Wednesday and North Carolina as early as 8 p.m. Wednesday, the forecast shows. The National Weather Service’s Wilmington Office says winds up to 45 mph are expected over southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.
But the storm’s path as of 8 p.m. shows it as a tropical depression by the time it is over the Carolinas.
Elsa could dump between 2 and 4 inches of rain on parts of South Carolina, with up to 6 inches possible in some areas. Coastal North Carolina could get between 1 and 3 inches of rain with up to 5 inches possible in some areas. The rain could lead to isolated flooding.
Isolated severe storms and tornadoes are also possible, the NWS’s Morehead/Newport office says.
“Periods of torrential rain, isolated tornadoes and gusty winds will be the primary threats,” the NWS says.
Large waves and strong rip currents are also possible this week, forecasters say. As of Monday, there’s a moderate risk of rip currents along much of the North and South Carolina coasts, but forecasters say strong rip currents are possible Tuesday through Thursday in some areas.
The National Hurricane Center hasn’t listed any watches or warnings for the Carolinas as of 8 p.m. Monday. But forecasters have said that additional advisories will likely be required later and that “interests” in the coastal Carolinas should monitor Elsa’s progress.
Elsa was moving over western Cuba and bringing heavy rain as of 8 p.m., the NHC says.
“On the forecast track, Elsa is expected to continue to move over western Cuba for the next few hours, move into the Florida Straits this evening, and pass near the Florida Keys early Tuesday,” the NHC says. “Elsa is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Elsa’s maximum sustained winds weakened from 65 mph earlier Monday to 50 mph with stronger gusts. But “some restrengthening” is expected as the storm moves over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday night and Tuesday.
“After Elsa clears Florida, it is expected to move faster north-northeastward across coastal Georgia and the Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday before moving over the western Atlantic,” the NHC said in its 8 a.m. update.
The NWS’s Morehead/Newport office says residents and visitors in the storm’s path should “pay close attention to the forecast over the coming days” and that “now is the time to check your hurricane plan and supplies.”
This story was originally published July 5, 2021 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Rain, wind from Tropical Storm Elsa possible in Carolinas this week. Here’s the latest."
