Tropical Storm Elsa was moving steadily through the Carolinas into the mid-Atlantic region by mid-Thursday, having mostly spared the southeastern states.
The National Hurricane Center reported Elsa was about 80 miles southwest of Raleigh, N.C. by 11 am Thursday. The storm is moving toward the northeast near 20 mph with an increase in forward speed expected during the next couple of days.
Elsa will move over South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday, pass near the mid-Atlantic states by Thursday night, and move near or over the northeast on Friday and Friday night, according to the NHC.
Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph, and tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the North Carolina coasts Thursday.
Elsa appeared to spare Florida significant damages, according to the Associated Press.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Wednesday morning news conference that were no reports of major structural damage or deaths from the storm.
“Clearly, this could have been worse,” the governor said, per the AP. “Be very careful when you’re working to clear debris,” he said.
DeSantis said there were up to 26,000 customers without power in the Tampa Bay region.
“We’re fortunate to see minimal damage & flooding this morning, but it’s important to keep safety top of mind. Be aware of your surroundings & don’t drive through flood waters,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said via Twitter.
Elsa is the earliest fifth-named storm on record according to Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami.
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