Tropical Storm Elsa is likely to make landfall on Cuba's central shore midafternoon Monday, resulting in "significant flooding and mudslides," according to the National Hurricane Center.
The latest: Elsa is expected to pass near the Florida Keys Monday night through Tuesday morning, and a tropical storm watch and surge watch are in effect for portions of the west coast of Florida, including Tampa Bay, the NHC said.
- "Some slight weakening is likely while Elsa crosses west-central Cuba today," per the NHC.
- Heavy rainfall is expected across Florida and coastal Georgia through Wednesday, which "may result in isolated flash, urban and minor river flooding," per the NHC.
- There is a risk of tropical storm and storm surge conditions as Elsa moves along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday, per the NHC.
- The storm is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
The big picture: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Saturday declared a state of emergency in 15 counties, including Miami-Dade, where crews conducted a controlled demolition ahead of the storm of the Surfside, Florida condo that collapsed last month.
- Elsa strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Friday before weakening into a tropical storm Saturday.
- Officials in Cuba evacuated 180,000 residents amid concerns about flooding.