According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Elsa intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday and is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of northern Florida in a few hours.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Elsa’s center is located about 100 miles (165 kilometers) south-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving northward at a speed of about 9 miles per hour (15 km/h), with the maximum sustained The wind speed is 75 mph (120 km/h). In the consultation at 8pm (Wednesday 00:00 GMT).

In addition to destructive winds and heavy rains, the Miami-based NHC also warned of life-threatening storm surges, floods and isolated tornadoes. Hurricane warnings have been issued for a long stretch of coastline from Egmont Key in the Tampa Bay area to the Steinhatchee River about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of the Gulf Coast. Elsa will make landfall on Wednesday morning.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the storm is expected to make landfall near the Tampa Bay area from 8 am to 9 am (12:00 to 13:00 GMT).

DeSantis said on Tuesday that it was “not time for a drive” because “we do have a dangerous situation” and warned that the area would be hit hard by the storm overnight.

On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, strong winds and heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Elsa passed through Key West, Florida, and pedestrians crossed the intersection of Green and Duval Street [Rob O’Neal/The Key West Citizen via AP]

In the Tampa Bay area, which has a population of approximately 3.5 million, events, government offices and schools were closed early on Tuesday before the storm. Due to the possibility of storm surge, Tampa International Airport closed at 5 pm (21:00 GMT).

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez called on state residents to begin preparing for the storm, including the possibility of power outages, and requiring people to stock enough food and water.

“If you are asked to evacuate, please leave,” she said, reminding people that there are emergency shelters to accommodate them.

After making landfall, the storm is expected to pass north-northeast through the southeastern United States on Thursday, and rainfall across the Florida Peninsula will drop by 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm).

The storm may hinder search and rescue work at the collapse of the Surfside apartment complex near Miami. The staff have been sifting through the rubble for 12 days, hoping to find survivors. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (Daniella Levine Cava) said that as of Tuesday, 36 people have been confirmed dead and 109 are still missing.

On Monday, July 5, 2021, in Havana, Cuba, a photographer used his mobile phone to take a photo of the rainbow that appeared after Tropical Storm Elsa passed by [Ramon Espinosa/AP]

Further south, the Cuban breathed a sigh of relief because Elsa seemed to have Cause The damage is small and it actually helps to replenish the reservoir.

The capital Havana woke up after a rainy night, the sky was gloomy, but there was no major flooding or damage on Tuesday. After the authorities lifted the tropical storm warning, Cubans returned to the streets, although heavy rains will continue in parts of the country.

Susana Perez, a 68-year-old retired teacher who lined up to buy oil amid the general shortage of goods in Cuba, said: “It’s a good thing that Elsa didn’t cause major losses, because our situation here is very complicated. The current hurricane.

Last week, Elsa, who briefly strengthened the first hurricane of the season, at least caused Three dead The infrastructure and agriculture of the Caribbean island country in eastern Cuba have been destroyed.

According to government officials, preliminary estimates of the damage are over 12 million U.S. dollars in Saint Lucia and over 5.3 million U.S. dollars in Jamaica.

The arrival of Elsa represents the earliest date of the fifth named storm (which usually does not arrive before August) to hit the area.