The western coast of Florida is bracing for impact from Tropical Storm Elsa.
The outer bands of Elsa are expected to start affecting land Tuesday, with the storm possibly making landfall Wednesday morning.
Elsa’s sustained winds were at 60 mph as of 7 A.M. Tuesday morning as it sat just west of Key West, and it could strengthen.
A hurricane watch is in effect stretching from near St.
Petersburg to southern Taylor County.
The worst of the wind and rain are expected to impact western Florida. Storm surge warnings are in effect from Bonita Beach through the northern parts of Big Bend. The highest surge is expected between three and five feet in the Tampa Bay area.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded a state of emergency. It now stretched over 12 counties. The declaration was approved by President Joe Biden.
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Elsa has already resulted in three deaths in St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic.