Elsa still close to hurricane strength and is expected to become a hurricane tonight

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and city safety officials gave a news conference Tuesday in preparation for Tropical Storm Elsa.

“As it looks right now, this is going to remain a tropical storm,” Castor said.

“Right now, what we’re looking at is the storm surge, which is predicted to be three to five feet and then winds as well. Winds can always be an issue, but it doesn’t, at this time, look as if it will go to hurricane strength,” the mayor added.

Castor urged residents to be prepared and exercise common sense.

“Please stay home this evening. You don’t need to be out. Do not go out. We’re going to have a lot of rain, a lot of wind. Do not drive into water that you cannot see through, so that means don’t drive into water period,” said Castor.

“We’re going to have some branches down, and we know what that means. That means some power outages,” the mayor said.

Chief Barbara Tripp of the Tampa Police Department assured residents that senior city staff will “be here to make sure things go smoothly.”

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