Tropical Storm Elsa gains strength, may become a hurricane

After landfall in Florida, the storm is forecast to move north across the southeast of the United States.

Tropical Storm Elsa is strengthening and could become a hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s northern Gulf coast, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center warned on Tuesday. In addition to damaging winds and heavy rains, Elsa could bring life-threatening storm surges, flooding and isolated tornadoes. A hurricane warning has been issued for a long stretch of coastline. “Although the environment is not conducive for significant strengthening before landfall, only a slight increase in intensity would result in Elsa becoming a hurricane” Tuesday night or early Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.