Tropical Storm Elsa has formed in the Atlantic the 5th named storm of 2021

Elsa strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season and it's battering the eastern Caribbean, where officials closed schools, businesses and airports under the threat of flash flooding and landslides. Heavy rains and winds lashed Barbados. 

Tropical Storm Elsa formed in the Atlantic on Thursday and additional strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The system is expected to move towards the Caribbean over the weekend.It is too early to tell what impacts, if any, will be felt in central FLORIDA from Elsa. Now is the time to review your hurricane plan

Elsa has formed in the central tropical Atlantic the 5th named storm of 2021 Atlantic hurricane season to date. Elsa is earliest calendar year 5th Atlantic named storm on record, breaking old record set last year by Edouard July 6. 

July 1st, and we are already on our 5th named storm of the hurricane season. although it is a long way off, it bears watching for the big islands in the Caribbean and possibly Florida as well.