Now that Tropical Storm Elsa has been downgraded to hurricane status, heavy rain and flooding could be a threat in the Triangle over the next week. The storm's current path is expected bring it into North Carolina on Thursday.According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm was moving over Haiti and Dominican Republic on Saturday and is expected to hit Jamaica.Elsa will then travel through Cuba to Florida and the rest southeastern U.S. Coast.Elsa was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday morning. However, a hurricane warning remains for Haiti and Dominican Republic.According to the 11 a.m. update, the storm was predicted to hit Cuba on Sunday.Here are the 11:01 EDT Key Messages to Tropical Storm Elsa. Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches have been issued for parts of Cuba. More information: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/b7d7PcDK7x National Hurricane Center [@NHC_Atlantic] July 3, 2021James Danco, a Raleigh meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated that it was still too early for accurate predictions of the storm's path.It is becoming more likely that we will at least receive some rain on Thursday. He also said that Elsa is expected to be a weak tropical storm when it reaches the Carolinas. There is a lot of uncertainty because the cone is so large.Danco stated that the storm could pass N.C. or the Triangle, and have little impact when it arrives.He said that there is a potential mountainous terrain for it to traverse, as well as Haiti and Cuba. This could help to weaken or tear it apart.Danco said that there is a possibility of flooding and heavy rainfall in the state. However, it's still too early to know with certainty. Other wind threats, such as tornadoes, are also possible.Danco stated that the greater the wind threat, the more it would spend time on the water. At this point, however, it looks like it will be on land for quite some time.He stated that people in the Triangle don't need to prepare for severe weather, but should keep an eye out for further information over the next few days.
