~ Expected to move across central Cuba today ~
MIAMI, Florida--According to the US National Hurricane Center based in Miami, Florida, what had briefly been Hurricane Elsa over the weekend had become Tropical Storm (TS) Elsa and its centre on Sunday, July 4, at 8:00pm EDT, was located by an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft and radar from Pilan and Camaguey, Cuba, near latitude 20.2 North, longitude 78.7 West.
Elsa was moving toward the north-west near 15 miles per hour (mph) (24 kilometres per hour (km/h)) and this general motion was expected to continue through today, Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-north-west on Tuesday.
Elsa was forecast to approach south-central Cuba Sunday night and early Monday. Elsa is expected to move across central and western Cuba and head toward the Florida Straits today, Monday, and pass near the Florida Keys early Tuesday. Elsa is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds at 5:00pm on Sunday were near 60mph (95km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening was expected before Elsa moved over Cuba, followed by some weakening while the centre moved over land. Slight re-strengthening was said to be possible after Elsa moved over the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico.
According to the 5:00pm report, tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 90 miles (150km) from the centre and the estimated minimum central pressure was 1,005 mb (29.68 inches).
Total rainfall of four to eight inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches were expected through Sunday across portions of Jamaica, which could lead to scattered flash flooding and mudslides, some of which could be significant.
Across portions of Cuba through Monday, rainfall of five to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are expected, resulting in significant flash flooding and mudslides.
The Cayman Islands should expect rainfall of three to five inches through today, Monday, also possibly leading to scattered flash flooding.
