Tag Archives: Elsa

Technology

Persona Romantics Can Fall In Love Again In New JRPG Eternights

Leave a comment

Lewd.
Screenshot: Studio Sai / Kotaku

The lineup of games showcased during last night’s PlayStation State of Play was a clear W for gamers from all walks of life, whether they be VR vampire dommy mommy enthusiasts, roller derby fanatics, or fighters who’ve finally crossed the street into the open-world. However, one game’s journey joining PlayStation’s stacked roster of game announcements was as anime as its own wacky premise. That game being Eternights.

Eternights, developed by Studio Sai, is a hack-and-slash JRPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious infection transformed humans into rampaging monsters. As you can see from its announcement trailer, Eternights is chocked full of all the things that make a JRPG great: You’ve got your cool protagonists with magical powers, dungeons riddled with traps and puzzles, and trusty party members who you can hold down the R2 button to hold hands with while watching the sunset–wait (checks Steam page) Oh, Eternights is also a dating sim. Right on.

Yes, that’s right. Love bay bay. Alongside Eternights blitzing anime-esque JRPG action, you’ll also be “fighting for those you love” in your downtime, scheduling dates and growing closer with the boys and girls in the apocalypse. After all, you’ve got two hands that can apparently grow back from dismemberment; why shouldn’t you use them to fight for a cure for humanity while also holding hands with one of the five cute survivors in your party?

Alongside some moderately spicy visual novel artwork during romantic scenes, Eternights also has 2D-animated cutscenes that change depending on which girl or guy you date. But time is of the essence. You can utilize it by deepening your relationship with your companions while also unlocking new skills (just like in real life), scouring the land for live-saving supplies, or simply saying “miss me with that BS” and Leeroy Jenkins-ing yourself into the first dungeon you see. To each their own.

If you’re thinking that a JRPG that doubles as a dating sim sounds awfully similar to the works of the Persona series, you’d be correct. In fact, after playing Persona 5, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 FES, Eternights’ developer quit their job as a technical artist at Apple to pursue making their game.

G/O Media may get a commission

30-Day Free Trial

Homer Learn & Grow Program

Stimulate your kids’ minds
Your little ones are glued to the screen, and that’s a reality we have to accept. But what if they could learn and grow while watching videos and playing games? Create a foundation for learning with this free trial.

Growing up playing games Final Fantasy VII, FFVIII, and FFX, Studio Sia founder Jae Hyun Yoo told Kotaku that the time spent building deep romantic connections with a small group of characters while dealing with the real-world time management of a calendar resonated with them the most.

“Creating those experiences [in Eternights] was [my] main desire,” Yoo said.

Eternights trailer featured quick time events as well as elemental power-based combat.
Screenshot: Studio Sai / Kotaku

Yoo has an impressive resume. Prior to Apple, he worked as an engineer at Thatgamecompany and as a FX animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. To give you an idea of Yoo’s chops, he worked on Elsa’s dress transformation in Frozen, portal magic in Big Hero 6, and the pixelated destruction of Sugarland in Wreck It Ralph.

The first footage the internet ever saw of Eternights was in a 2019 r/Unity3D subreddit post by Yoo. Back then, Eternights went under the project name Kafka and was described as Persona meets Devil May Cry. Jae posted the game having a calendar system, time management, and relationship-based gameplay with its RPG bits replaced by hacking and slashing.

Outside of fielding questions about 3D model rigging and sharing inspirational videos from Persona series director Katsura Hashino, Jae posted a series of updates on Eternights. These updates include Persona-inspired character introduction trailers, early animation cels of the trailer’s My Hero Academia-inspired punch, and battle footage.

“I remember my mom being worried about [Eternights],” Yoo said. “I guess she was relieved a bit yesterday.”

Nothing’s more anime than coming into your own after finding inspiration from the greats that come before you. Plus, having your debut game showcased alongside the likes of Final Fantasy XVI and Resident 4 Remake is pretty nutty.

“I hope you’ve enjoyed this first look at our debut game,” Jae said in a PlayStation blog post. “As a storyteller, I’ve always wanted to mix a love story with adrenaline-driven action. I wanted players to have a strong, personal reason to drive them forward in combat encounters and to feel they were fighting for more than just their own survival–they were fighting for those they love.”

Eternights is poised to carry the torch from Persona like gaming’s Prometheus passing on the fires of combat and romanceable party members with the masses. I can’t wait to hold hands and–dare I say smooch some waifus and husbandos–oh and also save the world when Eternights releases.

Eternight is slated to release in early 2023 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Updated: 6/3/22, 5:30 p.m. ET: This post has been updated to incorporate responses from the developers.

   



Read original article here

Entertainment

Mattel Wins Disney Princess Toy Deal, Joining Elsa of ‘Frozen’ With Barbie

Leave a comment

Cinderella, Elsa and their friends are moving back in with Barbie.

Mattel Inc.

MAT 9.05%

has won the license to produce toys based on

Walt Disney Co.

DIS 0.59%

’s princess lineup and from the recent blockbuster “Frozen” franchise, wresting the properties back from its rival

Hasbro Inc.,

HAS -2.23%

according to Mattel executives.

The deal reunites the characters with their previous home. Mattel lost the license to Hasbro in 2016, a financial and symbolic setback that precipitated a period of four chief executive officers at Mattel and compounding challenges as they tried to fill the $440 million hole from losing the business.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What’s your outlook for Mattel? Join the conversation below.

Much has changed since then. Mattel CEO

Ynon Kreiz,

who joined in 2018, has stabilized operations with over $1 billion in cost cuts, overhauled leadership, revived key brands such as Barbie and rebuilt relationships with Hollywood studios. Since the day the Disney properties walked away, Mattel executives vowed to win them back.

“It was an important priority, and it’s something we worked hard to win,” Mr. Kreiz said. Mattel showed it could manage evergreen brands that aren’t dependent on big movies, he said.

Mattel will start selling new Disney toys in 2023, and the business will be managed by the same group that has overseen Barbie’s comeback. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

For Hasbro, the change comes as the maker of Nerf guns and Monopoly games is making the transition to a new CEO following the death of its longtime leader,

Brian Goldner,

last year. Under his watch, Hasbro surpassed Mattel in annual sales and made an unsuccessful approach to take over its rival.

Hasbro declined to comment on losing the Disney princess and “Frozen” line but said it renewed its Star Wars license recently and will soon start making Indiana Jones toys too. Both are properties of Lucasfilm, which is owned by Disney.

Hasbro’s products inspired by Disney movies included a princess pop-up play set.



Photo:

Charles Sykes/Invision/Hasbro/Associated Press

Shares of Mattel jumped about 8% in early morning trading, after The Wall Street Journal reported on the deal. Shares of Hasbro slipped about 2.5%.

Mattel’s loss of the Disney license originally represented a high-profile fracturing of a relationship between one of the largest toy manufacturers and one of the most powerful companies in entertainment. It was a rare dust-up between companies whose founders worked together since the 1950s, when Mattel advertised toys during the “Mickey Mouse Club” show.

In the early 2010s, Barbie was floundering, with sales dropping for several years. Mattel devoted more resources to shoring up its marquee property. Disney’s princess dolls, meanwhile, were managed by a separate team in a competing unit.

Then, in 2013, Mattel came up with a toy line called Ever After High, which featured dolls based on the children of classic fairy tale characters, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. That flew too close to the Disney princess orbit. The following year Disney notified Mattel that it was going to Hasbro. (Mattel no longer sells the Ever After High toys.)

“Losing the franchise was not only a financial challenge for us but a really emotional one,” said Mattel President and Chief Operating Officer

Richard Dickson,

who rejoined Mattel for a second stint months before Disney made its decision. “It was a wake-up call for Mattel.”

The fallout started soon after. In early 2015, Mattel fired CEO

Bryan Stockton.

His successor,

Chris Sinclair,

focused on plugging revenue lost from the license with a range of items without staying power, which added complexity and extra costs to operations. Another CEO, former Google executive

Margo Georgiadis,

lasted about a year before leaving.

Mr. Kreiz has brought stability to the top job at Mattel. The former television executive cut one-third of jobs and closed several factories to stem ongoing losses. He helped patch up Mattel’s fractured relationships with retailers and Hollywood studios. Key brands such as Barbie and Hot Wheels responded to new marketing and items. Fisher-Price has stabilized, too.

Though sales are still below their peak of $6.5 billion in 2013, Mattel is on pace for more than $5.3 billion in revenue for 2021, according to analysts, up more than 15% from 2020. Projections for net income of $789 million are the highest since 2013. Analysts expect Hasbro to bring in more than $6 billion in 2021 sales, according to FactSet estimates.

A bit of corporate restructuring allowed Mattel to present a stronger case to Disney that the properties would get appropriate attention, Mr. Kreiz said. Instead of organizing its business around boys, girls and infant products, Mattel is now structured around categories such as dolls, vehicles and action figures. The Disney characters will slide into the doll division and be managed by the same group that has overseen Barbie’s comeback.

Barbie has a more open-ended play pattern than the Disney characters, whose stories are imprinted on film and in books. “Side by side, we know that we can exponentially create more value, more play and more business by complementing the narrative rather than competing with it,” Mr. Dickson said.

The transition raises some questions for Hasbro, which aimed to use the Disney princess and Frozen license to build up its catalog of toys geared toward girls. But the property faltered a bit under its new owner, people in the toy industry said.

Jim Silver, CEO of TTPM, an online toy-review site, estimates that the Disney property is about half as big as it was when it left Mattel, in part because of a lack of new content to boost consumer interest in the characters. The Disney deal didn’t reach the levels Hasbro was hoping to achieve, he said.

Mr. Silver said Hasbro has other toys for girls on the upswing, including My Little Pony toys boosted by a recent Netflix movie, so the shift of the Disney license might not be as dramatic as it was when Mattel lost it. “I think Mattel will do very well with it, and for Hasbro, I don’t think the economics made sense,” he said.

UBS analyst Arpiné Kocharyan estimates the Disney princess and Frozen license could bring in about $300 million in a nonmovie year. Even after paying royalties to Disney, it could still produce a higher profit margin for Mattel than it did at Hasbro, she said, because Mattel owns much of its doll manufacturing, making it more economical to produce incremental units.

Ms. Kocharyan said Hasbro’s addition of the Indiana Jones license, with a feature film due in 2023, could offset more than half of the lost revenue. Hasbro also has the Disney license for Marvel characters.

Write to Paul Ziobro at Paul.Ziobro@wsj.com

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Read original article here

US

Tropical Storm Elsa: Millions under tropical storm warnings and flash flood watches as Elsa moves up the East Coast

Leave a comment

Early Friday morning, Elsa was about 5 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to the National Hurricane Center, and racing to the northeast.

Elsa is bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and a tornado threat to the region. It will be near Boston in the afternoon and move into the Atlantic off Canada late Friday evening, CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said.

As Elsa moves near Long Island and southern and coastal New England, heavy rainfall could lead to considerable flash and urban flooding. Flash flood watches are posted for more than 40 million people from New Jersey to Maine.

Winds could gust up to 65 mph, and rotating storms moving inland from the outer bands could cause some brief tornadoes from Long Island to New England.

A tropical storm warning is still in effect from southern New Jersey to near Boston.

Elsa already has caused tornadoes, multiple injuries and at least one death in Florida and Georgia this week.

In New York, roads and subways looked “straight out of a disaster movie Thursday,” CNN affiliate WCBS reported. Cell phone video showed water streaming down the steps of 149th Street subway station, and waist-high water at 157th Street.

“The concrete above ground does not absorb the water. The water comes through the vents down the stairs in those waterfalls, and then if the drains at the street level can’t handle the water, it goes over the curb and makes things even worse,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Sarah Feinberg said, according to WCBS.

No stations were flooded Friday morning, MTA spokesperson Renee Price said. Crews were out working all night, and normal operations have resumed, Price said.

The MTA was pre-positioning crews and equipment in Long Island, where the storm was forecast to be most pronounced.

The MTA, which manages the subway system and other rail lines, bridges and tunnels, also banned empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on its seven bridges and in its two tunnels until at least noon Friday.
The storm was moving at 25 mph and has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Much of the Northeast will likely see 2 to 4 inches of rainfall by the weekend.

Even when Elsa’s center passes an area, residents there can still expect to see heavy bands of rainfall on the outskirts.

Tornadoes reported across the South

Tornadoes were reported across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia on Wednesday, including an EF-2 tornado that caused multiple injuries and damage at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kings Bay, Georgia.

Elsa’s first US target was Florida — and it caused damage and one death near the Georgia-Florida border.

The system made landfall Wednesday along the Gulf Coast in Taylor County, Florida, the NHC said. Roads flooded in Steinhatchee, CNN affiliate WCTV reported.

In Jacksonville, winds from Elsa caused a tree to fall on two cars during an afternoon commute, killing one person, Jacksonville fire rescue Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said. A possible tornado touched down Wednesday evening, according to Mayor Lenny Curry.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the flash flood alert for portions of the Northeast. It is a flash flood watch.

CNN’s Ganesh Setty, Jason Hanna, Gregory Lemos, Laura James, Rebekah Riess, Hannah Sarisohn, Devon Sayers, Amir Vera, Taylor Ward and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.

Read original article here

World

Track Elsa Live: Tropical storm warnings issued along NY, NJ, CT coasts; Flash flood watch across the Tri-State

Leave a comment

NEW YORK (WABC) — Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued from New Jersey to Massachusetts as Elsa approaches the Tri-State region.

The National Hurricane Center says Elsa is pouring rain across the Carolinas and gaining speed, moving toward the northeast near 20 mph.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts.

Watch: Elsa batters the Carolinas

The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to our area Thursday night into Friday.

RELATED: How the Tri-State area is preparing for Elsa

The National Weather Service says the tropical system could produce 2 to 3 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible.

The Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for coastal New Jersey, along Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to the eastern tip along the south shore and from Port Jefferson Harbor eastward on the north shore, and from New Haven, Connecticut to Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Check here for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service

Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Taylor County along the north Florida coast late Wednesday morning.

WHAT THE NEW YORK AREA CAN EXPECT

By Thursday night, Elsa will reach the Mid-Atlantic including just east of Washington, D.C. and into Philadelphia. Flooding rain and gusty winds will be the biggest threat.

Thursday:
Dry this morning with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms may develop this evening and continue into Friday.
An isolated strong to severe storm producing sudden gusty winds cannot be ruled out.
Elsa will begin to make its approach late tonight into early Friday morning.
Rainfall rates exceeding one in per hour for more than an hour are likely between 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM.
There’s a reasonable worst case of peak winds reaching 25 to 30 MPH with 35 to 40 MPH gusts, with the strongest winds along the coastline.

Friday:
The center of Elsa will pass quickly to the southeast of the city between 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM.
Heavy rain will continue intermittently through the early morning and begin to taper off around noon.
Winds will begin to subside around noon with rapidly improving conditions expected after 2:00 PM.
A total of 2.00 – 3.00 inches of rainfall is expected between today and Friday with locally higher amounts possible.
A high risk of life threatening rip currents will continue through Friday and potentially into Saturday.

While Elsa can bring heavy rain, the fast-forward movement of the storm should help to limit excessive rainfall and the threat of widespread flooding.

Elsa will also track close enough and have enough strength to bring wind gusts of 40-60 mph to coastal New Jersey and Long Island.

If Elsa’s track shifts farther west, some of the heavier rain and gusty winds could move inland.

Stay with the Eyewitness News AccuWeather team for updates.

RELATED ELSA COVERAGE
Live tracking Tropical Storm Elsa
Preparing for Elsa across the Tri-State
Long Island braces for Tropical Storm Elsa
The 7-day AccuWeather forecast

———-
* Get the AccuWeather App
* More AccuWeather
* Follow us on YouTube
* More local news
* Sign up for free newsletters
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Copyright © 2021 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Read original article here

World

Thousands without power in Coastal Georgia, Lowcountry following Tropical Storm Elsa

Leave a comment

Do you see storm damage? Share your photos and videos in our Facebook groupTropical Storm Elsa has moved out of the region, but it left a mark on southeast Georgia and on the Lowcountry with wind damage, multiple tornado reports and flooding rain Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.Update 7:43 a.m.:Dominion Energy is reporting several thousand power outages in Beaufort County alone, the vast majority of which are located in the northern part of the county.Meanwhile, Georgia Power is reporting 200-300 outages just in the Savannah area.Beaufort County Schools has closed facilities and canceled summer school for the day.Update 1:27 a.m.:The National Weather Service has expired the tornado warning for Charleston County and the storm continues to move further away from the WJCL viewing area.Update 1:15 a.m.:The National Weather Service says there are reports coming in of damage in Port Royal, South Carolina. Here are some pictures from storm spotters that were following Elsa’s track.Update 1:13 a.m.:The National Weather Service says a tornado has been confirmed located over Meggett, moving north at 45 mph.Update 1:02 a.m.:The National Weather Service says a tornado has been confirmed located over Edisto Island moving north at 50 mph. But the good news for the WJCL coverage area is that Elsa is making an exit.Update 12:59 a.m.:The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Charleston County until 1:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Edisto Island moving north at 50 mph.Update 12:56 a.m.:The National Weather Service will allow the tornado warning for Beaufort and Colleton counties to expire at 1 a.m. There are multiple reports coming in from the Port Royal area of storm damage, including trees on houses, power lines down and power outages.Update 12:49 a.m.:Check out the below video as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island.Meanwhile, power outages are being reported on Hilton Head.And there were some high wind gusts measured off Forest Beach and Hilton Head.Update 12:38 a.m.:The National Weather Service says a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Green Pond, South Carolina, and was moving north at 40 mph.Update 12:23 a.m.:The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Beaufort and Colleton counties until 1 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Dale, moving northwest at 50 mph.Update 12:05 a.m.:The National Weather Service will let the tornado warning for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina, expire at 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning. The NWS said the Hilton Head Airport reported a gust of 43 mph during the window when the tornado warning was in effect. Update 11:57 p.m.The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for Screven County in Georgia. However, the tornado warning remains for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina until 12:15 a.m.Update 11:50 p.m.:The National Weather Service says a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Parris Island moving northwest at 40 mph.Update 11:40 p.m.The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina until 12:15 a.m. There is also a tornado warning for Screven County until midnight. Update 11:25 p.m.:The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper counties in South Carolina until 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The impacted areas include Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort in South Carolina.Update 11:05 p.m.:Georgia Power is reporting more than 9,000 customers are now without power because of the impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa. Most of the impacted customers are in the downtown Savannah area. Plus, the National Weather Service reported a 74 mph wind gust on Tybee Island at 11:02 p.m.Update 10:52 p.m.:The National Weather Service has continued the Tropical Storm warning for Charleston Harbor, coastal waters from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Savannah, coastal waters from Savannah to Altamaha Sound, Georgia until further notice.The peak wind gust so far in Savannah has been 44 mph, per the NWS.Update 10:50 p.m.:Check out the below video as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island. Update 10:45 p.m.:More stunning images continue to come in from Eagle Hammock RV Park in Georgia, where the National Weather Service says a tornado left damage in its wake. RVs and trucks are seen flipped over in these photos shared by Michael Lucas.Update 10:30 p.m.:The National Weather Service in Charleston has continued the tornado watch until 5 a.m. Thursday for Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampson counties in South Carolina and Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven counties in Georgia. The good news is that the NWS has canceled the watch for Evans, Liberty, McIntosh, and Tattnall counties.Update 10:25 p.m.:Riley Miller was live at Shelter Cove as the Lowcountry feels the effects of Elsa.Update 10:20 p.m.:Georgia Power is reporting more than 3,400 customers are now without power because of the impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa. The Savannah area is now being impacted by tropical-storm-force wind gusts of more than 40 mph.Update 10 p.m.:Tropical-storm-force winds have arrived in the region. There are now reports of 40 mph winds at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.Update 9:26 p.m.:Check out the below video as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island. Plus, WJCL Meteorologist Victoria Kokinos says the heaviest rainbands are starting to arrive in Chatham County.Update 9 p.m.:The heaviest band of rain is now lifting north towards Richmond Hill and Savannah, while areas to the south have been pounded with more than 5 inches of rain.Update 8:45 p.m.:See Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Nelson’s latest update in the above video.According to Kings Bay Public Affairs Specialist Chris Tucker, about 10 people have been injured due to the tornado in the St. Marys area.Nine of the 10 have been taken to the hospital but injuries do not appear life-threatening. All those injured were at the RV park, which is on the installation.As many as 12 RVs have been destroyed, but the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. But there has been no reported damage to military equipment or assets. Update 8:35 p.m.:WJCL’s Brooke Butler did a Facebook Live update from Darien, Ga. Watch it in its entirety below.Update 8:25 p.m.:Camden County EMA confirms a tornado touched down in downtown St. Marys. Officials say the area is unsafe and are asking people to avoid the area. If you live in the area, they say to shelter in place until conditions are safe.Update 8:13 p.m.:The latest look at Hilton Head Island:Update 7:25 p.m.:The National Weather Service has issued a widespread tornado watch spanning much of the Lowcountry and Coastal Georgia, until 5 a.m.Update 6:56 p.m.:Check out the below videos as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island and Amy Zimmer has a look at current conditions on Hilton Head Island.Update 6:50 p.m.:Frank Sulkowski reports there are a few power outages on Tybee Island.Update 6:33 p.m.: The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for Wayne County. Conditions still continue to be favorable for spin-up tornadoes as the outer bands of Tropical Storm Elsa move into the Lowcountry.Update 6:30 p.m.:Frank Sulkowski has the latest update from Tybee Island.Update 6:16 p.m.:The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for Wayne County, Georgia, until 6:45 p.m. The storm is west of Brunswick and is moving to the north at 50 mph. The NWS said the storm is completely rain-wrapped. Watch WJCL’s live storm coverage above.Update 5:47 p.m.:An update from Brooke Butler on the conditions in Darien as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches. Update 5:30 p.m.:Coligny Beach is starting to empty as Elsa continues to move toward the region. Update 5:15 p.m.:Winds are starting to pick up with a 28 mph gust reported in Savannah in the last few minutes. Peak wind gusts will occur between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Thursday morning. WJCL Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Nelson shared the latest forecast track from the 5 p.m. advisory as Elsa continues to move toward the region. Update 5 p.m.:Watch live coverage above.Update 4:53 p.m.:A tornado has been confirmed in Jacksonville, Fla.Update 4:30 p.m.:The tornado warning has expired. Watch coverage of the warning in the below video.Update 4:05 p.m.:A tornado warning has been issued in Bulloch and Candler counties until 4:30 p.m.Update 12:45 p.m.:A Tornado Watch has been issued for Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall, Appling, Ware, Wayne and Pierce counties until 8 p.m.Update 12:27 p.m.:See the latest forecast in the video above.Update 11:32 a.m.:Elsa has reportedly made landfall in the north Florida Gulf Coast, in Taylor County.At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 65 miles north northwest of Cedar Key. Elsa is moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.Update 10 a.m.: See Jonathan Myers’ Facebook Live update in the above videoInitial report:Now’s the time to watch “From the Eye of the Storm” as Tropical Storm Elsa is tracking north just off the west coast of Florida. Tropical storm warnings extend into Georgia and South Carolina’s Lowcountry.Elsa is currently a tropical storm and is forecast to make landfall Wednesday morning along the west coast of Florida. The storm will turn northeast and take aim at southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry late this afternoon into early Thursday morning.Weather conditions locally will go downhill after 3 pm. The likely impacts will be heavy rain, gusty winds, and isolated tornadoes.Today is a WJCL 22 Severe High Impact Weather Day. Heavy downpours and localized street flooding are the greatest concerns locally. A widespread 1-3″ of rain is likely, with some locations pick up 5″ or more. Winds may gust to 30-40 mph at times, with gusts around 50mph possible at the coast. You can head here to get your game plan in place now with the free StormTracker22 Hurricane Essential Guide.Stay on top of the very latest Certified Most Accurate forecast by downloading our free WJCLNews App here.

Do you see storm damage? Share your photos and videos in our Facebook group

Tropical Storm Elsa has moved out of the region, but it left a mark on southeast Georgia and on the Lowcountry with wind damage, multiple tornado reports and flooding rain Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

Update 7:43 a.m.:

Dominion Energy is reporting several thousand power outages in Beaufort County alone, the vast majority of which are located in the northern part of the county.

Meanwhile, Georgia Power is reporting 200-300 outages just in the Savannah area.

Beaufort County Schools has closed facilities and canceled summer school for the day.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 1:27 a.m.:
The National Weather Service has expired the tornado warning for Charleston County and the storm continues to move further away from the WJCL viewing area.

Update 1:15 a.m.:
The National Weather Service says there are reports coming in of damage in Port Royal, South Carolina. Here are some pictures from storm spotters that were following Elsa’s track.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 1:13 a.m.:
The National Weather Service says a tornado has been confirmed located over Meggett, moving north at 45 mph.

Update 1:02 a.m.:
The National Weather Service says a tornado has been confirmed located over Edisto Island moving north at 50 mph. But the good news for the WJCL coverage area is that Elsa is making an exit.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 12:59 a.m.:
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Charleston County until 1:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Edisto Island moving north at 50 mph.

Update 12:56 a.m.:
The National Weather Service will allow the tornado warning for Beaufort and Colleton counties to expire at 1 a.m. There are multiple reports coming in from the Port Royal area of storm damage, including trees on houses, power lines down and power outages.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.



Update 12:49 a.m.:

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Meanwhile, power outages are being reported on Hilton Head.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

And there were some high wind gusts measured off Forest Beach and Hilton Head.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 12:38 a.m.:
The National Weather Service says a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Green Pond, South Carolina, and was moving north at 40 mph.

Update 12:23 a.m.:
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Beaufort and Colleton counties until 1 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Dale, moving northwest at 50 mph.

Update 12:05 a.m.:
The National Weather Service will let the tornado warning for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina, expire at 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning. The NWS said the Hilton Head Airport reported a gust of 43 mph during the window when the tornado warning was in effect.

This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 11:57 p.m.
The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for Screven County in Georgia. However, the tornado warning remains for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina until 12:15 a.m.

Update 11:50 p.m.:

The National Weather Service says a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Parris Island moving northwest at 40 mph.

Update 11:40 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina until 12:15 a.m. There is also a tornado warning for Screven County until midnight.

Update 11:25 p.m.:
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper counties in South Carolina until 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The impacted areas include Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort in South Carolina.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 11:05 p.m.:

Georgia Power is reporting more than 9,000 customers are now without power because of the impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa. Most of the impacted customers are in the downtown Savannah area.

Plus, the National Weather Service reported a 74 mph wind gust on Tybee Island at 11:02 p.m.

Update 10:52 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has continued the Tropical Storm warning for Charleston Harbor, coastal waters from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Savannah, coastal waters from Savannah to Altamaha Sound, Georgia until further notice.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The peak wind gust so far in Savannah has been 44 mph, per the NWS.

Update 10:50 p.m.:

Check out the below video as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 10:45 p.m.:

More stunning images continue to come in from Eagle Hammock RV Park in Georgia, where the National Weather Service says a tornado left damage in its wake. RVs and trucks are seen flipped over in these photos shared by Michael Lucas.

Update 10:30 p.m.:

The National Weather Service in Charleston has continued the tornado watch until 5 a.m. Thursday for Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampson counties in South Carolina and Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven counties in Georgia.

The good news is that the NWS has canceled the watch for Evans, Liberty, McIntosh, and Tattnall counties.

Update 10:25 p.m.:

Riley Miller was live at Shelter Cove as the Lowcountry feels the effects of Elsa.

This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.


Update 10:20 p.m.:
Georgia Power is reporting more than 3,400 customers are now without power because of the impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa. The Savannah area is now being impacted by tropical-storm-force wind gusts of more than 40 mph.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 10 p.m.:

Tropical-storm-force winds have arrived in the region. There are now reports of 40 mph winds at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

Update 9:26 p.m.:

Check out the below video as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island. Plus, WJCL Meteorologist Victoria Kokinos says the heaviest rainbands are starting to arrive in Chatham County.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.


This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 9 p.m.:

The heaviest band of rain is now lifting north towards Richmond Hill and Savannah, while areas to the south have been pounded with more than 5 inches of rain.

Update 8:45 p.m.:

See Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Nelson’s latest update in the above video.

According to Kings Bay Public Affairs Specialist Chris Tucker, about 10 people have been injured due to the tornado in the St. Marys area.

Nine of the 10 have been taken to the hospital but injuries do not appear life-threatening. All those injured were at the RV park, which is on the installation.

As many as 12 RVs have been destroyed, but the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. But there has been no reported damage to military equipment or assets.

Update 8:35 p.m.:

WJCL’s Brooke Butler did a Facebook Live update from Darien, Ga. Watch it in its entirety below.


Update 8:25 p.m.:

Camden County EMA confirms a tornado touched down in downtown St. Marys. Officials say the area is unsafe and are asking people to avoid the area. If you live in the area, they say to shelter in place until conditions are safe.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 8:13 p.m.:

The latest look at Hilton Head Island:



Update 7:25 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has issued a widespread tornado watch spanning much of the Lowcountry and Coastal Georgia, until 5 a.m.

ABC

Tornado Watch until 5:00 am Thursday

Update 6:56 p.m.:

Check out the below videos as Frank Sulkowski provides a report from Tybee Island and Amy Zimmer has a look at current conditions on Hilton Head Island.



Update 6:50 p.m.:
Frank Sulkowski reports there are a few power outages on Tybee Island.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 6:33 p.m.:
The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for Wayne County. Conditions still continue to be favorable for spin-up tornadoes as the outer bands of Tropical Storm Elsa move into the Lowcountry.

Update 6:30 p.m.:

Frank Sulkowski has the latest update from Tybee Island.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 6:16 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for Wayne County, Georgia, until 6:45 p.m. The storm is west of Brunswick and is moving to the north at 50 mph. The NWS said the storm is completely rain-wrapped. Watch WJCL’s live storm coverage above.

Update 5:47 p.m.:

An update from Brooke Butler on the conditions in Darien as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 5:30 p.m.:

Coligny Beach is starting to empty as Elsa continues to move toward the region.

This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 5:15 p.m.:

Winds are starting to pick up with a 28 mph gust reported in Savannah in the last few minutes. Peak wind gusts will occur between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Thursday morning.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

WJCL Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Nelson shared the latest forecast track from the 5 p.m. advisory as Elsa continues to move toward the region.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 5 p.m.:

Watch live coverage above.

Update 4:53 p.m.:

A tornado has been confirmed in Jacksonville, Fla.

Update 4:30 p.m.:

The tornado warning has expired. Watch coverage of the warning in the below video.

Update 4:05 p.m.:

A tornado warning has been issued in Bulloch and Candler counties until 4:30 p.m.

Update 12:45 p.m.:

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall, Appling, Ware, Wayne and Pierce counties until 8 p.m.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Update 12:27 p.m.:

See the latest forecast in the video above.

Update 11:32 a.m.:

Elsa has reportedly made landfall in the north Florida Gulf Coast, in Taylor County.

At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 65 miles north northwest of Cedar Key. Elsa is moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.

Update 10 a.m.: See Jonathan Myers’ Facebook Live update in the above video

Initial report:

Now’s the time to watch “From the Eye of the Storm” as Tropical Storm Elsa is tracking north just off the west coast of Florida. Tropical storm warnings extend into Georgia and South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Impacts arrive Wednesday PM – Night

Tropical Storm Warnings 

Elsa is currently a tropical storm and is forecast to make landfall Wednesday morning along the west coast of Florida. The storm will turn northeast and take aim at southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry late this afternoon into early Thursday morning.

Hearst OwnedWJCL

Tracking the Tropics

Weather conditions locally will go downhill after 3 pm. The likely impacts will be heavy rain, gusty winds, and isolated tornadoes.

Hearst Owned

Elsa possible tracks

Hearst Owned

Impacts from Elsa

Today is a WJCL 22 Severe High Impact Weather Day. Heavy downpours and localized street flooding are the greatest concerns locally. A widespread 1-3″ of rain is likely, with some locations pick up 5″ or more. Winds may gust to 30-40 mph at times, with gusts around 50mph possible at the coast. You can head here to get your game plan in place now with the free StormTracker22 Hurricane Essential Guide.

Hearst Owned

Possible rain totals

Hearst Owned

Gusty winds tonight from Elsa

Stay on top of the very latest Certified Most Accurate forecast by downloading our free WJCLNews App here.



Read original article here

US

Elsa storm update: NC weather radar shows tropical storm bands arriving in North Carolina, could bring tornadoes, power outages

Leave a comment

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Outer bands of rain from Tropical Storm Elsa started moving into the North Carolina Sandhills around 5 a.m.

According to the 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, the center of the storm was located about 50 miles south of Columbia, South Carolina. Elsa was traveling northeast at 18 miles per hour.

WATCH LIVE: Radar shows current location of Elsa

The storm is expected to quickly continue its way up through North Carolina, tracking just west of Interstate 95.

Elsa remains a weak tropical storm with sustained winds at 40 miles per hour.

Elsa is expected to dump between 1-3 inches of rain (with isolated areas getting as much as 6 inches of rainfall) in central North Carolina and bring wind gusts as strong as 50 miles per hour in spots. Elsa also brings with it an isolated tornado threat.

Timeline

Showers began around 5 a.m. in the Sandhills on Thursday. As the day progresses, the rain spreads north across the ABC11 viewing area with the entire region seeing rain and storms by the afternoon.

Peak wind gusts Thursday will happened between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. south of Wake County. Areas north of Wake County can expect the strongest winds between 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Elsa will move through North Carolina fairly quickly. The majority of the storm will be into Virginia by 9 p.m.

To get the latest weather alerts sent straight to your phone, download the ABC11 mobile app

Friday will be partly cloudy with highs in the low 90s. The weekend looks mostly sunny with that heat remaining in the lower 90s.

North Carolina Preparations

The State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh activated on Tuesday to monitor the storm.

“Residents and visitors to North Carolina should keep a close watch on the forecast for this storm,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday. “It’s important that everyone be aware and prepared for rains, and it’s also important to avoid driving through floodwaters.”

SEE ALSO: Tropical Storm Elsa kills 1 in Florida, hurts 10 at Georgia base

The state’s emergency response team has reached out to local governments, making sure they have everything they need before Elsa arrives.

State leaders say individuals should also be sure they have everything they need in their emergency kits, including an evacuation plan and essential goods.

WATCH: What you need in your hurricane preparedness kit

Meanwhile, City of Raleigh is using an online system to automatically lower the water level at Johnson Lake.

The system lessens the amount of water flowing out of the dam down stream, leaving more room for the lake to fill up during a storm.

Before the installation of the automatic online system, City of Raleigh officials would have to go to Lake Johnson in person to open the valve.

Johnston County Public Schools announced that its Summer Learning Program would be canceled for students at all sites on Thursday, July 8. Friday, July 16 will serve as a makeup day.

All Durham Public Schools’ Summer programs were also canceled for Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Copyright © 2021 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Read original article here

US

Tropical Storm Elsa Makes Landfall in Florida

Leave a comment

And at least one boat overturned in the storm. On Monday night, a vessel carrying 22 people from Cuba capsized about 26 miles southeast of Key West, the Coast Guard said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that 13 people were rescued, with nine still missing.

“These ventures are dangerous and can often lead to casualties, especially during tropical storms,” said Cmdr. Jacob McMillan of the Coast Guard. “The seas are unpredictable and unforgiving.”

Elsa is the fifth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. The first, Ana, formed on May 23, making this year the seventh in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of the season on June 1.

The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect to experience stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms — though the overall number of storms may drop, because factors like stronger wind shear might keep weaker storms from forming.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic. Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, causing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and move to using Greek letters.

It was the highest number of storms on record, surpassing the 28 storms in 2005, and included the second-highest number of hurricanes on record.

Reporting was contributed by Ed Augustin, Johnny Diaz, Derrick Bryson Taylor, Daniel Victor, Chris Stanford, Eduardo Medina, Isabella Grullón Paz, Alyssa Lukpat, Jesus Jiménez, Mike Ives, and Azi Paybarah.

Read original article here

Science

Tropical Storm Elsa delays SpaceX Dragon cargo ship’s return to Earth

Leave a comment

Update for July7: Tropical Storm Elsa continues to delay SpaceX’s plan to undock a Dragon cargo ship from the International Space Station and return it to Earth this week. NASA now says the capsule, originally targeted for a July 6 splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida’s coast, will now depart the station no earlier than July 8 at 10:35 a.m. EDT (1435 GMT), weather permitting.

NASA and SpaceX have delayed the departure of the SpaceX CRS-22 Dragon cargo ship from the International Space Station (ISS) as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches Florida. 

The cargo spacecraft, which was originally expected to leave the space station Tuesday (July 6), will remain docked to the station’s Harmony module until at least Wednesday (July 7), NASA said in a statement. 

The decision came as Tropical Storm Elsa neared Florida, bringing heavy winds, downpours and tidal surges, which would make splashdown and recovery of the capsule unsafe. 

Video: Tropical Storm Elsa seen from space, SpaceX Dragon return delayed
Related: Wow! NASA photographer spots space station crossing the sun during spacewalk (video)

SpaceX’s Dragon CRS-22 cargo ship pictured approaching the International Space Station, on June 5, 2021. (Image credit: NASA)

NASA said the ground teams continue monitoring the situation to ensure wave height and wind speeds are within safe limits during the retrieval operation. NASA TV coverage of the undocking is expected to start at 10:45 am EDT on Wednesday, the space agency said. 

Dragon CSR-22 arrived at the orbital outpost June 5 with 7,300 lbs. (3,311 kilograms) of water and food supplies and science experiments on board.

Among its cargo were two new ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA) that European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough installed during a series of spacewalks later that month. 

On its return, the spacecraft will deliver back to Earth about 5,000 lbs (2,300 kg) of material from the space station, including experiments testing the activity of oral bacteria in space and the effectiveness of drugs designed to improve muscle function, according to the NASA statement.

Dragon’s splashdown, which will be controlled by SpaceX teams from Hawthorne, California, is now expected to take place Friday (July 9). The spacecraft will then be transported to NASA’s Space Station Processing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to affect weather in Florida throughout Wednesday but should move to the north by Thursday morning.

Follow Tereza Pultarova on Twitter @TerezaPultarova. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 



Read original article here

US

Tropical Elsa continues to move up coast, tornado watches issued

Leave a comment

Tropical Storm Elsa nears landfall on northern Florida Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Elsa is nearing landfall along the north Florida Gulf Coast. At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 55 miles west of Cedar Key, according to forecasters. Elsa was moving toward the north near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.>>TRACKING ELSA: The latest maps, models and pathsElsa is expected to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf Coast late Wednesday morning, forecasters said. After making landfall along the Florida Gulf coast, Elsa will move across the southeastern United States and mid-Atlantic through Thursday.Related: Sumter, Lake, Marion under State of Emergency due to Elsa Related: Video shows storm damage in Barbados from ElsaThe National Hurricane Center says a couple of tornadoes are possible for parts of Florida on Wednesday.Forecasters say little strengthening is expected after landfall.>> WESH 2 News 2021 Hurricane Survival Guide>> Surviving the Season: Hurricane Season 2021A Hurricane Warning is in effect for: West coast of Florida from Chassahowitzka to the Steinhatchee River A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:West coast of Florida from south of Chassahowitzka to the middle of Longboat KeyWest coast of Florida north of Steinhatchee River to Ochlockonee RiverMouth of St. Marys River, Georgia to Little River Inlet, SouthCarolinaA Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:North of Little River Inlet, South Carolina to Chincoteague, VirginiaPamlico and Albemarle SoundsA Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:West coast of Florida from the Middle of Longboat Key to the Aucilla River, including Tampa Bay A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:West of the Aucilla River to the Ochlockonee 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

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Tropical Storm Elsa is nearing landfall along the north Florida Gulf Coast.

At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 55 miles west of Cedar Key, according to forecasters. Elsa was moving toward the north near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.

>>TRACKING ELSA: The latest maps, models and paths

Elsa is expected to make landfall along the north Florida Gulf Coast late Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

After making landfall along the Florida Gulf coast, Elsa will move across the southeastern United States and mid-Atlantic through Thursday.

Related: Sumter, Lake, Marion under State of Emergency due to Elsa

Related: Video shows storm damage in Barbados from Elsa

The National Hurricane Center says a couple of tornadoes are possible for parts of Florida on Wednesday.

Forecasters say little strengthening is expected after landfall.

>> WESH 2 News 2021 Hurricane Survival Guide

>> Surviving the Season: Hurricane Season 2021

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • West coast of Florida from Chassahowitzka to the Steinhatchee River

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • West coast of Florida from south of Chassahowitzka to the middle of Longboat Key
  • West coast of Florida north of Steinhatchee River to Ochlockonee River
  • Mouth of St. Marys River, Georgia to Little River Inlet, South

    Carolina

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

  • North of Little River Inlet, South Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia
  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

  • West coast of Florida from the Middle of Longboat Key to the Aucilla River, including Tampa Bay

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

  • West of the Aucilla River to the Ochlockonee River

Read original article here

US

Elsa weakened to a tropical storm but millions in Florida remain under a hurricane warning

Leave a comment

While the storm weakened, hurricane warnings remain in place for more than four million people.

Across three states, more than 12 million people are under a tropical storm warning.

The storm was southwest of Tampa early Wednesday morning, where residents were urged to stay indoors.

As the storm churns off the western coast of Florida with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, it is expected to be near the Pinellas Peninsula around 2 a.m. EST – the closest it will be to land before it makes landfall later in the morning.

The system is moving north at 14 mph on a collision course with Cedar Key in the Big Bend area, where it is expected to make landfall late Wednesday morning.

Bands of heavy rain and strong winds continue to spread inland across southwest and west-central Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida until 8 a.m., according to a tweet from the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Tuesday to include a total of 33 counties as local, state and utility resources continue to prepare for the incoming storm.

The Florida National Guard has activated 60 guardsmen to serve at the State Emergency Operations Center and Logistics Readiness Center, according to a release from the Guard. It is prepared to activate additional personnel as needed.

“We are well-equipped with assets including high-wheeled vehicles, helicopters, boats and generators, and are preparing for possible missions to include humanitarian assistance, security operations, search and rescue, aviation, and more,” the guard said in the release.

In Tampa, officials urged residents to stay off the roads as the storm approaches.

Counties and utilities preparing ahead of storm

Both the mayor and emergency coordinator for the city of Tampa posted on social media Tuesday to encourage residents to stay home and be prepared.

“We are prepared here in the city of Tampa but we need you to do your part as well,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a video posted to Twitter. “Don’t go outside tonight. If you don’t have to, do not go outside. Stay in.”

“We want everybody to be safe in Tampa and we’ll be up all night monitoring the storm so you don’t have to,” she added.

Earlier, Tampa Emergency Coordinator John Antapasis said it was time for residents to get to safety ahead of the expected landfall.

“Now is the time to get back home, get off the streets and stay safe for the rest of tonight,” he said. “You should be making and finalizing your hurricane plans and ensuring that you’re in a safe location while … Elsa makes it’s way through out community.”

Antapasis advised that people who need to be on the road should check the city’s flood map.

Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes also warned people to get ready for the storm during a press conference Tuesday.

“Please finalize your plans and secure your homes and get ready to sort of bunker down and ride out this storm,” Hopes said.

Shelters were opened in at least five counties Tuesday and two counties issued voluntary evacuation orders.

Duke Energy, which serves 1.8 million customers in Florida, according to its website, is preparing for anticipated outages from the storm.
The utility said in a press release Tuesday that it has staged 3,000 utility “crew members, contractors, tree specialists and other personnel” from Pinellas County to north Florida.

Additional line workers and support personnel have also been brought in from the Carolinas, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, according to the release.

The University of Florida in Gainesville has canceled classes for Wednesday in anticipation of the storm, the university said in a statement.

Tropical storm warnings and emergency declarations extended

Ahead of Elsa’s landfall in Florida, tropical storm warnings have been issued in Georgia and the Carolinas.

The warnings extend northward from the Altamaha Sound, just north of Brunswick, Georgia, towards the Little River Inlet, on the state border between the Carolinas.

A tropical storm watch has been issued north of the Little River Inlet to Duck, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks. This watch includes the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds of the North Carolina lowlands.

On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency in preparation for the impact of Elsa.

“This storm system has the potential to produce destructive impacts to citizens throughout the central, southern, and coastal regions of the State of Georgia and due to the possibility of downed trees, power lines, and debris, Georgia’s network of roads may be rendered impassable in the affected counties, isolating residences and persons from access to essential public services,” Kemp said.

A State of Emergency has been declared in 91 of Georgia’s 159 counties, according to Kemp’s order. The order will expire Wednesday at midnight unless the governor decides to renew it.

CNN’s Sara Weisfeldt, Dave Alsup, Devon Sayers, Tina Burnside, and Camille Furst contributed to this report.



Read original article here