LIVE UPDATES: Elsa weakens to tropical storm, approaching Florida's west coast
Heavy rains and gusty winds continue to spread inland across southwest and west-central Florida.
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Pedestrians dash across the intersection of Greene and Duval streets as heavy winds and rain associated with Tropical Storm Elsa passes Key West, Fla., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
As of 5 a.m., Tropical Storm Elsa is currently traveling north "almost parallel" to Florida's west coast, and that general motion is expected to continue through Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The storm is expected to turn toward the north-northeast in the late afternoon or evening.
"On the forecast track, Elsa will move near or over portions of the west coast of Florida this morning, then make landfall along the north Florida Gulf coast by late this morning or this afternoon," according to the NHC. "The storm should then move across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States through Thursday."
Fox Extreme Weather Center -- Tracking Elsa
Tropical Storm Elsa is currently about 50 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida, according to a 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The storm was moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph -- down from 70 mph earlier this morning.
Heavy rains and gusty winds continue to spread inland across Florida's western peninsula, the NHC said.
A hurricane warning remains in effect from Chassahowitzka to the Steinhatchee River along Florida's west coast.
https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1412696906124255240
Rubble and debris of the Champlain Towers South condo can be seen Tuesday, July 6, 2021 in Surfside, Fla.
Eight additional victims were recovered Tuesday at the Champlain Towers South collapse site -- as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches Florida.
The demolition of the remaining portion of the partially collapsed condo building over the holiday weekend allowed rescuers to reach new parts of the structure.
As of early Wednesday, the death toll stands at 36 with more than 100 people still unaccounted for.
Elsa's heaviest winds and rain should bypass Surfside, Florida.
Photographers take pictures of the sky full of clouds after the passage of Tropical Storm Elsa, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, July 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Elsa has weakened to a tropical storm, according to a 2 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
As of 2 a.m., the storm was located about 60 miles west of Tampa, Florida.
It was moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph.
A hurricane warning is still in effect for Egmont Key to the Steinhatchee River, Florida
"Maximum sustained winds are now near 70 mph (115 km/h) with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in the intensity are possible until landfall occurs," according to the NHC. "Weakening will begin after Elsa moves inland by late Wednesday morning."
This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 5:50 p.m. EDT, and provided by NOAA, shows Tropical Storm Elsa in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.
As of 11 p.m., the center of Hurricane Elsa was located about 65 miles southwest of Tampa Bay, Florida.
The storm was moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
It is expected to make landfall between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday between the Tampa Bay area and the Big Bend region
https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1412611734146142209
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