The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood watch for 30 counties in the region.
The watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. Thursday, the period during which the storm will travel over the stateâs central section, the weather service said.
Elsa weakened to a tropical storm as it threatened Floridaâs northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday after raking past the Tampa Bay region. Gov. Ron DeSantis said forecasts called for the cyclone to come ashore sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. A hurricane warning was in effect for a long stretch of coastline, from Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay to the Steinhatchee River in the Big Bend area. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the Tampa Bay area, which is highly vulnerable to storm surge. The most powerful winds were forecast to remain offshore.
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch for Thursday in Wayne County as wind and rain are expected from Tropical Storm Elsa.
The potential for high winds resulted in a decision to cancel the Wayne County Public Schools summer scholars program on Thursday.
No classes are planned due to concern of strong winds that could affect school buses, said Ken Derksen, WCPS communications and public relations officer.
No cancellations are planned for Wayne County or city of Goldsboro offices or services.
City and county staff continue to monitor Elsa, which is expected to move through Wayne County during the day Thursday, bringing 1 to 3 inches and winds anywhere from 20 to 40 mph.
John Hinton
23 hrs ago
The remnants of Tropical Storm Elsa will bring steady rain and gusty winds to central North Carolina on Thursday, including Forsyth, Guilford and Davidson counties, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood watch for 30 counties in the region.
The watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. Thursday, the period during which the storm will travel over the stateâs central section, the weather service said.
Low-lying, poor drainage and normally flood-prone areas could become flooded on Thursday, the weather service said. Roads also could be flooded and impassable.
The storm will likely be downgraded to a tropical depression by Thursday as it passes over central North Carolina, said Chrissy Anderson, a weather-service meteorologist in Raleigh.
Elsa expected to become a hurricane before landfall
Landfall expected over the northern Florida Gulf Coast
KZTV 10
and last updated 2021-07-06 17:37:35-04
Tropical storm Elsa has strengthened and is forecast to become a category 1 hurricane before making landfall in the northern Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday morning.
Here is the latest from the National Hurricane Center.
Elsa is moving toward the north near 10 mph, and a generally northward motion is expected through tonight. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected on Wednesday, followed by a faster northeastward motion by late Thursday. On the forecast track, Elsa will move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida later today through tonight. Elsa is forecast to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast Wednesday morning and then move across the southeastern United States through Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts, and Elsa is forecast to become a hurricane
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