PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Tropical Storm Elsa is battering the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, downing trees and blowing off roofs as it speeds through the Caribbean, killing at least three people.
The storm was centered about 140 miles east of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving west-northwest at 23 mph.
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph as the tropical storm, which had been a Category 1 hurricane earlier on Saturday, weakened in its approach to Hispaniola and Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was forecast to hit Cuba next on a path that would take it to Florida, with some models showing it would spin into the Gulf or up the Atlantic Coast.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to Dry Tortugas.
