A tropical storm warning is in effect for the region as Tropical Storm Elsa makes its way up the East Coast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds our way, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain showers and thunderstorms were expected to hit the shoreline Thursday evening before the tropical storm strikes early Friday morning. A tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch remained in effect for the region as of Thursday night.  

The storm is expected to make landfall on the coastline about 6 a.m. Friday, with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph at the storm's peak around 8 a.m. One to 3 inches of rain are expected to fall throughout the duration of the storm, according to Gary Lessor of the Meteorological Studies and Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University.

The tropical storm-force winds may cause property damage, fallen trees, downed power lines, road closures and scattered power outages on land, while rough seas and dangerous rip currents are expected to develop in the Long Island Sound, according to the weather service.

The weather service also warned that wind gusts may cause damage to unanchored mobile homes, sheds and porches or blow over awnings, fences and road signs, and efforts to secure property before the storm hits should be done as soon as possible.

Debris and downed tree limbs may make driving conditions hazardous during and after the storm. Heavy rain may cause flash flooding that might also make roads more dangerous. The storm conditions could allow for a few tornadoes to develop as well, the weather service said.

AAA urges drivers to stay off the roads. “Violent storms can pop up quickly, limiting visibility and creating conditions that could put everyone on the roads at risk,” Amy Parmenter, spokesperson for AAA in Greater Hartford, said in a news release. If motorists must travel, she advises them to "adjust driving behaviors for the wet weather and avoid driving during downpours altogether.”

Utility companies, municipalities preparing for storm

Eversource on Thursday said it's been preparing for Elsa's arrival for days.

"We are intensely focused on preparing our response to Tropical Storm Elsa and we can assure our customers that we are ready," company spokesperson Mitchell Gross said. "We've stayed on top of the track of the storm all week."

He said that "as Tropical Storm Elsa makes its way to New England, Eversource is preparing to respond" by prepositioning crews at work centers throughout the state and bringing in extra staffing.

The company started bringing in hundreds of additional line crews and contractor crews on Sunday that are ready to respond to damage and outages statewide, Gross said.

"We cannot stop the storm from causing outages, but we can be ready to respond — and we are," he said.

During a news conference in Hartford on Thursday afternoon, Eversource Electric Operations President Craig Hallstrom addressed the potential threat of the storm and said the company was prepared to respond swiftly and effectively.

Based on information available Thursday, Hallstrom said the company was planning to respond to a "level 4 situation" on Friday, with up to 380,000 customers impacted by power outages and crews responding to as many as 10,000 areas with storm-related damage.

Hallstrom said fallen tree limbs and branches cause the majority of power outages and that, with winds of 35 to 45 mph expected, customers should plan for potential outages. "We can't control the weather and amount of damage the system will take, but we're ready to respond as soon as we see an impact."

He said Eversource has taken "a critical look" at how to better communicate with customers in emergency situations following Tropical Storm Isaias last summer, which left Eversource customers across the state without power for days. Extra crews were called in sooner for Elsa than they have been for previous storms, he said, and the company has better strategies in place for communicating with customers, especially those who need electricity for critical medical equipment.

Lessor said he doesn't expect Elsa to cause many power outages. "These winds are nothing the shoreline hasn't seen before," he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont ordered a partial activation of the state emergency operations center at 6 a.m. Friday to monitor conditions from the storm.

Montville's Fire Marshal and Emergency Director Paul Barnes said the department has been in contact with Eversource and extra career staff will be on duty.

Tim May, Montville Town Council chairman, advised residents to "put away items that can blow away in strong winds" and to be prepared in case of a power outage with water, food and fuel for generators.

Norwich Public Utilities said in a statement that it has been preparing for the storm since Tuesday by inspecting all vehicles and filling their fuel tanks, making sure all supplies and equipment are prepared, planning for enough staffing, testing communications and having a contracted tree crew on standby.

"While every storm is different, our preparations ahead of a major storm are always the same. We get our personnel and equipment in place so that we can respond in a safe and efficient manner," said Chris LaRose, general manager of NPU. "We have a great team with years of experience in dealing with extreme weather, so we are ready to go."

In its statement, NPU urged people to be cautious around downed wires. Wires should always be assumed to be energized and potentially lethal, and should be reported to 911 immediately, it said.

NPU customers are asked to call (860) 887-2555 to report any issues during the storm, or visit norwichpublicutilities.com. In the event of wide-scale outages, the utility company said it will provide regular updates to the media and on its Facebook page, facebook.com/NPUtilities.

Norwich Public Works Director Patrick McLaughlin said the flood-prone Yantic River is "higher than I'd like it to be" prior to a tropical storm with expected heavy rain. "If we get 2 inches, it's not a problem," he said. "If we get 5 inches, that's probably quite a problem."

The National Weather Service Yantic River flood gauge showed the river level at 3.73 feet on Thursday afternoon, with flood stage at 9 feet.

McLaughlin said city leaders met several times throughout the day Thursday to prepare for the storm. Public works crews were clearing storm basins of debris and sharpening chainsaws to prepare for possible downed trees.

Groton Town Manager John Burt said Capt. Jay Bee with the town's police department has been monitoring the storm and providing updates to town employees.

"Public Works have been clearing problematic storm drains in advance of the storm along with sharpening chainsaws and preparing barriers for flooded areas," Burt said. "They will also call in people for overtime if it is needed. Our Police also place barriers in flooded areas as needed during storms."

Burt said the town also will post a weather update on its Facebook pages.

Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule said the town is "taking the storm fairly serious, like other municipalities." Senior center, youth and recreation programs have been canceled, and the town beach will be closed Friday. The town's emergency operations center will open at 7:30 a.m. to deal with downed trees and wires and any other issues that might arise from the storm, he said.

Lessor said he expects the last drops of rain from Elsa to fall about noon Friday, but that won't be the end of a wet weather outlook in the region. Scattered thunderstorms and rain showers are expected to continue Friday night, Saturday afternoon, throughout the day and night Sunday and on Monday afternoon.

Day Staff Writers Claire Bessette, Johana Vazquez and Kimberly Drelich contributed to this report.

t.hartz@theday.com

Tips on staying safe

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control published a list of safety tips on Thursday, warning people of potential safety risks caused by storms like Elsa.

• Use portable generators outside and away from the home to prevent exhaust gases from leaking inside.

• Evacuate your home and call the fire department if your carbon monoxide detector sounds.

• Blow out candles whenever you leave a room and if possible, use flashlights instead for alternative lighting.

• Be alert while driving and keep 10-15 feet away from downed power lines or other items they may have come in contact with, like guardrails or street signs.

• Do not drive through standing water.