Tracking Hurricane Elsa: Category 1 storm barrels toward the Caribbean and takes aims for Florida

STORM Elsa turned into a category 1 hurricane on Friday morning.

A hurricane warning has been issued for Barbados, St Vincent, the Grenadines, and St Lucia.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Elsa could hit the US as early as Sunday evening – first hitting Florida, before making its way to Georgia and South Carolina.

Elsa was the earliest fifth named storm on record, beating out last year’s Eduardo which formed on July 6, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

Read our Hurricane Elsa live blog below for the latest news and updates…

  • Julia Fields

    HOTEL WINDOWS TAPED UP

  • Julia Fields

    COULD REACH FLORIDA BY TUESDAY

  • Julia Fields

    FOOTAGE OF STORM IN BARBADOS

  • Julia Fields

    'THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES'

  • Julia Fields

    PROJECTED TRACK

  • Julia Fields

    'BATTERED CARRIBBEAN'

  • Julia Fields

    THREE TO SIX INCHES OF RAINFALL

    The storm was forecast to produce rainfall totals of three to six inches with maximum totals of 8 inches on Friday across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands, including Barbados.

    The storm could unleash isolated flash flooding and mudslides.

  • Julia Fields

    REMAINING BELOW HURRICANE LEVEL IN JAMAICA AND CUBA

    The storm was then expected to move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba on Sunday, though the forecast so far calls for it to remain below hurricane force.

  • Julia Fields

    EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN IN UPCOMING DAYS

    Elsa was expected to strengthen in upcoming days and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late Friday and Friday night and pass near the southern coast of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, on Saturday.

  • Julia Fields

    BARBADOS SUSPENDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

    The government of Barbados said it was suspending public transportation and closing vaccination sites and businesses including gas stations by Thursday night, while St. Vincent expected to so by Friday morning.

  • Julia Fields

    MOVING LOCATION

    The storm was located about 260miles east-southeast of Barbados and is expected to pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday.

    It initially had maximum sustained winds of 50mph and was moving west-northwest at 26mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

  • Julia Fields

    'EARLIEST FIFTH NAMED STORM'

    Elsa was the earliest fifth named storm on record, beating out last year’s Eduardo which formed on July 6, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

  • Julia Fields

    STORM COULD REACH US AS EARLY AS SUNDAY

    According to the center, the hurricane could hit the US as early as Sunday evening – first hitting Florida, before making its way to Georgia and South Carolina.

    So far, there have been reports of a sustained wind of 74mph with a gust of 86mph.

  • Julia Fields

    WHERE IS THE HURRICANE HEADED?

    A hurricane warning has now been issued for Barbados, St Vincent, the Grenadines and St Lucia.

  • Julia Fields

    WINDS REACH 75MPH

    "Surface observations from Barbados indicate that Elsa's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75mph, and the cyclone is now a hurricane," the agency determined.

    It added that a "special advisory" will be issued within the hour to adhere to the new strength.

  • Julia Fields

    FIRST HURRICANE OF THE SEASON

    Storm Elsa has become the first hurricane of the 2021 season and is set to hit the United States this weekend.

    The National Hurricane Center confirmed that the storm had strengthened on Friday morning.

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post Harry Potter fans will love London’s new Instagram-friendly exhibition
    Next post Boris Johnson condemns toppling Queen's statue during furious protests over Canadian mass graves