Tropical Storm Elsa

As Tropical Storm Elsa passes along the coast of Southwest Florida, there are still feeder bands far from the center of the storm that is producing heavy rain over the region. Flood warnings are in effect over parts of Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties. Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Greg Bueno urges motorists to drive cautiously on wet roadways.

As Tropical Storm Elsa skirts Southwest Florida the risk of flooding, tornadoes, and downed trees have not passed. WGCU's Julie Glenn talked with Florida Public Radio Emergency Network meteorologist, Megan Borowski, about why our area needs to remain vigilant through tomorrow. Here's that conversation:

Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order over the weekend declaring a state of emergency for 15 Florida counties including all of Southwest Florida ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa.Officials in Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota Counties have enacted local state of emergency declarations.

The approach of Tropical Storm Elsa has prompted school district cancellations in Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

After an early morning briefing from emergency officials, Governor DeSantis talks storm preparation, storm surge, and generator safety.

As Tropical Storm Elsa continues moving toward Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order, Saturday, declaring a state of emergency for 15 Florida counties including Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties.Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the lower keys Monday night and are projected to begin impacting Southwest Florida in Collier County early Tuesday morning.