Wet and Windy End to Week in Store for East Coast Thanks to Elsa

Posted: July 8, 2021 2:23 pm

Tropical Storm Elsa is certainly not done making an impact in the US. After slamming into the Gulf Coast of Florida as a tropical storm on Wednesday morning, Elsa trekked across the peninsula and into the Southeast. What is next for this storm and who will it impact in the coming days?

Current Elsa Stats

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Elsa was still a tropical storm as of mid-day Thursday midday, packing winds of 45 mph. The storm is moving to the northeast at 20 mph. As a result of its continued strength, tropical storm warnings are in effect up and down the eastern seaboard, stretching from South Carolina up through New Jersey and well into New England.

Elsa’s Aftermath

At least one death is being blamed on Elsa. The strong winds associated with the storm caused a tree to fall on two vehicles on Wednesday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida, killing one person as a result. Officials said that there were multiple injuries and damage after a tornado spawned by Elsa touched down at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, located approximately 40 miles north of Jacksonville. The twister touched down around just before 6 pm local time on Wednesday.

Elsa Possibilities

Elsa is expected to move northward along the East Coast for the remainder of the week. As the storm moves up the coast, it should stay close enough to land that it does not strengthen even more out in the Atlantic Ocean. However, if Elsa’s track takes it back out in the water, it may meet the right conditions needed for it to intensify further. Should this happen, it would likely occur on Friday.

Wet Few Days in Store for East Coast

Even if Elsa does not strengthen, it is going to be a wet few days for this region of the country. First up after Elsa barreled into Florida was a path through Georgia and the Carolinas. The storm is now predicted to bring rain and wind throughout much of the eastern seaboard.

The rainfall will center right along Interstate 95, particularly to the areas to the east of this busy highway. As the center of the storm passes over any region, residents should be prepared for 3 to 6 hours of heavy rain. Low-lying and poor drainage areas will be susceptible to flooding and potential delays during the height of the storm.

Up to four inches of rain may be possible through the mid-Atlantic and along the northern New England coastal areas starting Thursday down south and not wrapping up until Saturday the farther north that you travel up the coast.

Residents of New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine should be prepared for 1-2 inches of rain late Thursday and into Friday.

The good news is that Elsa’s relatively quick speed may help to hinder the amount of rain that will drop in any one location. This will help to mitigate the danger of widespread flash flooding

Wind and Strong Surf Concerns

In addition to the heavy rainfall, Elsa will also be close enough to the eastern seaboard to bring strong wind gusts measured at 40-60 mph to the region. Those areas in the path of the high winds include southeastern Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula, coastal New Jersey and New York, and the far southeast corner of New England. The height of the winds will be late Thursday and into the early Friday morning hours.

Even stronger winds may be possible along the barrier islands of the mid-Atlantic coast and up into the vulnerable areas of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Storm surge may also be a problem as the remains of Elsa bother the East Coast. 1-3 feet of storm surge is forecast in southeastern New England and through the eastern part of Long Island on Friday. Beachgoers also need to be mindful of rough surf and the potential of rip currents stretching from the mid-Atlantic all the way up the coast into New England.

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