The Hurricane Warning for Jamaica has been downgraded and a TROPICAL STORM WARNING is now in effect as Elsa
continues to weaken while approaching the southern coast of Hispaniola.
This means that hurricane conditions are no longer likely; however, tropical storm conditions pose a possible threat within the next 24 hours.
At 10:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Elsa was located near
Latitude 17.0 degrees North, Longitude 71.6 degrees West, or about 500 kilometres east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica.
This is also about 70 kilometres south of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 110 km/h, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast tonight, followed by gradual weakening on Sunday and Monday when Elsa is expected to be near or over Cuba.
Elsa is moving towards the west-northwest near 46 km/h; however, a decrease in forward speed is expected later today and Sunday, followed by a turn towards the northwest on Sunday night or Monday.
On its forecast track, the centre of Tropical Storm Elsa will move near the southern coast of Hispaniola later today and tonight, pass northeast of Jamaica on Sunday morning, then move over parts of eastern Cuba later in the day.
Weather conditions over Jamaica are expected to deteriorate this evening with widespread rain and tropical-storm-force
winds spreading over northern and eastern parishes, and then to the rest of the island during the night and early on Sunday.
3-6 inches of rainfall could cause flash flooding in low-lying areas. Northeastern parishes should also expect 2 to 4 foot storm surge along the coast.
