Tropical Storm Elsa makes landfall in Cuba and is expected to reach Florida Reuters

Sarah Marsh and Mark Frank

Havana (Reuters)-Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall near the Bay of Pigs on the south-central coast of Cuba on Monday and started crossing the island nation. After killing at least three people elsewhere in the Caribbean, it will head to Florida.

According to the Cuban Meteorological Institute, Elsa has previously caused severe damage in parts of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and is currently moving to the northwest at 22 kilometers (14 miles) per hour, with sustained peak wind speeds. Close to 95 mph (59 mph)

The institute stated that the storm surge is affecting the southern coast of Cuba, while parts of the country are experiencing strong and strong winds. Meteorologists said that as long as it is not too strong, Elsa’s rainfall may have a positive impact on agriculture.

The emergence of Elsa comes as the Caribbean island nations are already struggling to cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their tourism-dependent economy and preparing for another particularly active hurricane season https://www.reuters.com/business /environment/us-government-forecaster-forecast-higher than normal-2021-atlantic-hurricane season-2021-05-20.

Authorities and locals in some countries have started to repair the damage caused by Elsa on Monday, such as removing fallen trees and other debris and restoring electricity.

“We continue to focus our greatest attention on the trajectory of Storm Elsa through Cuba,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel tweeted early in the morning. “The authorities are working across the country.”

The Cuban Meteorological Institute stated that the storm is expected to leave the country on the night between Mayabé and Matanzas, east of Havana.

According to official media reports, more than 100,000 people in Cuba were evacuated from flood-prone areas or unsafe houses along the path of the storm. Most of them went to the homes of family and friends, but thousands also went to government shelters.

Although this preparation usually allows Cuba to avoid casualties caused by storms elsewhere, it occurred at the time of Cuba’s worst coronavirus outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, raising concerns that evacuation might exacerbate infections.

Farmers speeded up the harvest of fruits and vegetables to protect them from storms, while local authorities removed debris from the streets to prevent them from flying around in the wind, and some coastal residents moved their furniture to more terrain. high places.

On Monday, the rainfall in parts of Cuba was 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm), and the maximum isolated rainfall was 15 inches (38 cm), which is expected to cause “severe flash floods and mudslides.” Headquartered in the United States of Miami The National Bureau of Statistics Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Kenia Otano, a radio reporter who lives on the shores of Elsa Landing, said: “The rain has worsened a lot and the wind is very strong.”

The National Hurricane Center said that tropical storm observations and storm surge observations have been set up in most areas of the west coast of Florida. Elsa is expected to pass near the Florida Keys early on Tuesday and move near or over the west coast of Florida on Tuesday. on Wednesday.

According to NHC, it is expected that the rainfall in the coastal areas of Florida and Georgia will reach 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) by Wednesday, and the maximum local rainfall can reach 6 inches (15 cm), which may cause isolated lightning, Flooding of cities and small rivers.

The agency added that there may be several tornadoes in southern Florida on Monday night and the Florida Peninsula on Tuesday.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on Twitter: “All Floridans should be prepared for possible heavy rains, floods and potential power outages.” “Now is the time to replenish stocks and review hurricane plans. Up.”

The approach of the storm forced Florida officials to demolish the remainder of the apartment building that collapsed 11 days ago, killing at least 24 people and still more than 120 people missing.

Meteorologists predict that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will be higher than normal. Previously, 2020 was the most active season on record, generating 30 named tropical storms.