Florida is bracing for a potentially life-threatening storm surge ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa, which is likely to hit the southern US state on Tuesday. The storm is moving over the Florida Straits toward the state after battering Cuba with drenching rain and strong winds. The storm has left a trail of destruction through the Caribbean, claiming at least three lives.

“Slow strengthening is forecast through tonight, and Elsa could be near hurricane strength before it makes landfall in Florida,” the US National Hurricane Center said, AFP reported. 

Also Read: What category is hurricane Elsa?

As of Tuesday morning, the storm was making its way towards the west coast of Florida at 12 miles (19 kilometers) per hour with “conditions beginning to deteriorate across” the Florida Keys, the archipelago at the state’s southern tip.

As a precautionary measure, over 100,000 people were evacuated from coastal or low-lying areas. 

Meanwhile, in Surfside, on Florida’s east coast, workers overnight used explosives in the controlled demolition of the still-standing portion of a collapsed condo building — a job accelerated for fear Elsa might topple the structure.

But on Monday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told CNN that officials were “very hopeful” that, with Elsa’s current path, they would not have to pause search-and-rescue efforts after all.

Also Read: Florida building collapse: Death toll rises to 28, 117 people still missing

The NHC had said Elsa packed maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour as it churned across Cuba near Havana.

States of alarm were sounded in the provinces of Havana, Mayabeque and Artemisa as thousands were evacuated from their homes.  Shops were closed in Havana and driving was restricted to civil defense vehicles.

The storm conditions would continue over Cuba, with flooding still a possibility, the NHC said.

“This will result in significant flash flooding and mudslides,” it said, with Insmet warning that effects from the storm could continue in the coming days.