HOLT, Fla., July 1, 2021—Tropical Storm Elsa has formed in the Atlantic.

Elsa is moving west near a rapid clip of 25 mph and an even faster motion is expected during the next 24 to 36 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days with maximum winds reaching 65 mph in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center forecast.

Some intensification is likely for the next day or two, according to the NHC, as Elsa moves through an environment of warm sea surface temperatures, fairly low wind shear and high relative humidity.

However, the storm’s fast forward motion may limit strengthening and interaction with mountainous land masses of the Lesser Antilles could disrupt the storm somewhat, according to the NHC.

Therefore, Elsa’s long-term track is undetermined; some models take the storm across western Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico while others turn the storm northward after interacting with Hispaniola.