The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Elsa is strengthening and was expected to become a hurricane before making landfall along Florida's north Gulf coastST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tropical Storm Elsa gathered strength and was likely to become a hurricane before coming ashore in Florida, weather forecasters said Tuesday. The Tampa area is highly vulnerable to storm surge because the offshore waters and Tampa Bay are quite shallow, experts say. “We’re trained and prepared, and we want to ensure our customers are safe and prepared for any impacts from the storm,” said Todd Fountain, the utility’s Florida storm director. After Florida, forecasters predicted Elsa would hit coastal Georgia and South Carolina, portions of which were under a tropical storm watch. Elsa is the earliest fifth-named storm on record, said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami.

Source: ABC News July 06, 2021 11:15 UTC