PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Tropical Storm Elsa is continuing to move toward the Florida Keys, and is expected to pass over central Cuba by Monday afternoon.
Elsa has slowed down significantly over the past day and is now moving toward the northwest near 15 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Tuesday.
Elsa is forecast to continue moving near or over eastern Cuba Sunday evening. Elsa is expected to move across central and western Cuba and head toward the Florida Straits on Monday and pass near the Florida Keys early Tuesday. The storm is then forecast to move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday
Related story: Fourth of July weather in S. Fla.
As of the 11 p.m. advisory, Elsa had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was about 165 miles east-southeast of Cayo Largo, Cuba.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Cienfuegos and Matanzas.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Mayabeque, and Havana, and the Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas.
Related story: Bryan Norcross’ analysis on Tropical Storm Elsa
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cuban province of Camaguey.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the west coast of Florida, from Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, the Cuban province of Artemisa, the Florida Keys from east of Craig Key to Ocean Reef, Florida Bay and the west coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Anclote River.
Related story: 3 dead as Elsa speeds through Caribbean, aims for Cuba
Officials attributed at least three deaths in the Caribbean to the storm. One was in St. Lucia and a 15-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman died in the Dominican Republic.
DeSantis declared a state of emergency Saturday in 15 counties in Florida including Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The other 13 counties are Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota.
Related story: Monroe County declares local state of emergency due to Elsa
Regular updates
Prepare for hurricane season