Sun | Jul 19, 2026

Tropical Storm Elsa soaks NYC as it races up East Coast

Published:Friday | July 9, 2021 | 9:40 AM
In this photo provided by the US Navy, Missy Lattanzie, an RV park resident, searches through her belongings that were destroyed after a tornado touched down Wednesday on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, on Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Kings Bay, Georgia. Severe weather from Tropical Storm Elsa spurred tornado warnings in Delaware and New Jersey early Friday as the system moved over the mid-Atlantic states and into the northeastern United States. (Mass Communication 3rd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana/US Navy via AP)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Fast-moving Tropical Storm Elsa hit the New York City region with torrential rains and high winds as it churned up the East Coast on Friday.

Maximum sustained winds from the storm peaked near 50 miles per hour as it moved through New York City and Long Island, the National Hurricane Center said in an 8:00 a.m. update.

Wind speeds had ticked down from overnight readings as high as 78 miles per hour in coastal New Jersey that appeared to be “associated with nearby tornadoes.” the centre reported.

Heavy rains were causing potential traffic hazards in New York City and nearby suburbs, which were already reeling from a deluge Thursday that flooded roads and at least one subway station.

Up to six inches of rain was possible in some areas Friday.

The hurricane centre said a tornado or two was possible through early afternoon Friday over parts of Long Island and southeastern New England.

The system was already blamed for one death in Florida on Wednesday.

And Elsa also previously caused a damaging tornado in Georgia.

A tropical storm warning Friday morning stretched along parts of the East Coast from New Jersey to Massachusetts.

Forecasters said Elsa was moving northeast at 31 miles per hour.

The hurricane centre said rainfall totals between two to four inches were expected through Friday for eastern mid-Atlantic states and into New England.

Isolated totals up to six inches were possible.

There was a risk of considerable flash and urban flooding.

The tropical storm was expected to cross over the Northeast by the afternoon and move over Atlantic Canada by the night and Saturday.

No significant change in strength was expected during the day, and Elsa is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by Friday night.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.