Tropical Storm Elsa slightly strengthens as it approaches Virginia

NEW ORLEANS — As of the 5 pm NHC update, Elsa slightly strengthens as it moves towards Virginia. Winds of 50 mph and moving northeast at 21 mph. It is expected to bring tropical storm impacts to areas like Raleigh and Norfolk Thursday evening.

Elsa will then track closer to New York City as early as Friday morning as a tropical storm system. 

Currently there are no impacts expected along the Gulf Coast region. 

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is forecast to produce more storms than average. The reason for this is the lack of El Nino, which typically features more wind shear. We also expect warmer than average sea temperatures and an active West African Monsoon.

After a record-breaking 2020 hurricane season, we now know the Greek alphabet will no longer be used to name storms.

The World Meteorological Organization announced the Greek alphabet will not be used in the future because it “creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing.”

There has been only one other season that used the extra set of names, and that was in 2005. The World Meteorological Organization released a new set of supplemental names that will be used if the season exhausts the standard list.

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