Tropical storm Elsa targets the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Elsa, the first hurricane of the 2021 season 0:59

(CNN) -

This Saturday, Tropical Storm Elsa will hit southern Hispaniola and Jamaica with heavy rains and strong winds and will arrive in Cuba later this weekend.

Elsa threatens flash floods and landslides on parts of those islands.

The forecast is less certain after Sunday, but Elsa could bring rain and winds to South Florida next week as a tropical storm, perhaps even around the site of the deadly Miami condo collapse, the National Hurricane Center said.

Elsa was a Category 1 hurricane on Friday and early Saturday, but was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday morning with sustained winds of 112km / h.

At 11 a.m. ET, its center was about 40 miles south of Beata Island, Dominican Republic, the NHC said.

• FOLLOW ELSA'S JOURNEY HERE

Elsa is expected to pass near or along the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Saturday, and to pass near Jamaica on Sunday.

Heavy rain is also forecast in parts of these island nations through Sunday, with a 10 to 15-centimeter chance, possibly leading to flash floods and landslides, according to the NHC.

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Cuba and parts of the Cayman Islands would be next, and eastern Cuba may have tropical storm conditions by Sunday.

It is possible for 12 to 15 inches of rain to fall in these areas on Sunday and Monday.

Flash floods and major landslides are possible in Cuba, especially in the more mountainous regions.

Although the center of Elsa has already passed through southern Puerto Rico, its outer bands will also cause rain on Saturday.

It is possible for 2 to 12 centimeters of rain to be received, and isolated flash floods and landslides to occur, the NHC said.

Elsa's path to the US coast is more uncertain

After Sunday, the forecast and the eventual impacts of Elsa on the coast of the United States, including Florida, are more uncertain.

According to the most recent forecast, Elsa could start bringing winds and rain to the Florida Keys and southwest Florida Monday night as a tropical storm.

Then it could head along the west coast of Florida early next week.

But even as the center of the storm heads toward west Florida, the South East Florida community of Surfside will "possibly see some impacts, even if it's just some of the outer bands" of rain and wind by Tuesday. or Wednesday, said CNN meteorologist Tyler Mauldin.

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Search and rescue operations are still underway at the site of a Miami condo collapse.

Elsa's rapprochement could affect that, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.

"It is possible that this area could see tropical storm force winds," he said Friday morning.

"It is not guaranteed, but it is possible, so our Emergency Management Department is assuming that will happen and is making the necessary preparations to be able, obviously, to protect much of the equipment."

Elsa was the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic season and the third named storm to pose a threat to the US coastline.

Elsa threatens to impact South Florida 4:30

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