Florida Public Radio Emergency Network

A weak tropical system could drift back toward the state on Monday and Tuesday.

The greater Tampa Bay region can expect potentially strong storms starting Friday night.

The front will produce a more southeasterly wind and drive deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

Tampa should see storms starting around 3 p.m., with the rains moving into the Gulf of Mexico around sunset.

CSU forecasters have raised their predictions from 17 named storms and eight hurricanes to 20 storms and nine hurricanes.

"This is a shelter-in-place operation, unless you are in a low-lying area," said Barry Burton, Pinellas County Administrator.

The 2 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center reduced Elsa back down to a Tropical Storm, as it continues to bring heavy rains and gutsy winds to the greater Tampa Bay region.

The storm quickly strengthened overnight and is forecast to enter the Caribbean on Friday night.

Tropical Storm Elsa is located well east of the Windward Islands, but is forecast to move quickly into the Caribbean this weekend.

The exact path is highly uncertain, and any direct interaction with the islands of Hispaniola or Cuba also complicate the forecast.

The highest risk of the strongest storms is between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

The best chances for rain along the West Coast are Tuesday and Wednesday as moisture is drawn back across the state.