The latest news from CNN regarding hurricane Elsa shows it heading towards South West Florida.
The hurricane center said Elsa was moving west-northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Elsa's tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from its center.
Elsa is moving very near Jamaica and parts of eastern and central Cuba on Sunday, the hurricane center said, where tropical storm conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible later Sunday and at night.
The forecast is less certain after Sunday, meteorologists said, but Elsa could bring heavy rain and gusty winds to South Florida this week as a tropical storm -- including the site of the
deadly Surfside condo collapse.
The hurricane center issued a tropical storm warning for the Florida Keys, from Craig Key west to Dry Tortugas. Meanwhile, a tropical storm watch has been issued from Craig Key east to Ocean Reef, and for the southwest coast of Florida, from Flamingo north to Bonita Beach.
By Monday, Elsa is expected to track across central and western Cuba and head toward the Florida Straits. Tropical storm conditions are forecast for portions of the Keys and southwestern Florida by Monday evening. Elsa is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Some slight strengthening is possible Sunday as Elsa tracks through warmer waters, approaching the south-central coast of Cuba. However, gradual weakening is forecast to occur Sunday night and Monday when Elsa moves across Cuba. After the storm passes Cuba, it will track into the Florida Straits where some slight restrengthening is possible as it moves over the warm Gulf Stream.
Tropical storm conditions, including heavy rainfall and storm surge of 1 to 3 feet, are expected late Monday in the Florida Keys, and are possible along the coast of southwestern Florida beginning Monday night.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 15 counties on Saturday ahead of Elsa. He encouraged residents to begin preparation efforts, including stocking their disaster supply kits with a week's worth of supplies and coming up with a disaster plan.
"We're preparing for the risk of isolated tornadoes, storm surge, heavy rainfall and flash flooding," DeSantis said.
The state of emergency covers Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
Based on the latest forecast track, Elsa could start bringing winds and rain to the Florida Keys and southwestern Florida by Monday night as a tropical storm. It then could track along Florida's west coast early next week.
The hurricane center forecasts Elsa will bring 2 to 6 inches of rain to portions of the Florida Keys and southern Florida.