Tropical Storm Zeta could be a hurricane before reaching Gulf Coast mid-week, NHC says
Editor’s note: Read the latest Monday forecast for Zeta here.
South Mississippi is again in forecast cone for a tropical system, for a possibly record-setting seventh time in the 2020 hurricane season.
Newly formed Tropical Storm Zeta set one official record Sunday, making the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season the fastest to get to 27 named storms. The year 2005 holds the record for most named storms with 28.
Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew over the storm Sunday, and found that winds had strengthened to 50 mph. Zeta is still mostly stationary but expected to strengthen into a hurricane before it hits the Yucatan peninsula Monday.
The storm system is forecast to move into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.
“Zeta could be at or just below hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday, and could bring storm surge, rainfall, and wind impacts to areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle,” the National Hurricane Center said Sunday.
The good news is increasing wind shear and cooler water temperatures are expected to prevent strengthening.
“Although not explicitly shown in the official forecast, the unfavorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions over the northern Gulf of Mexico could cause Zeta to weaken by the time the center nears the northern Gulf coast.
“However, users are reminded that these intensity forecasts are subject to uncertainty.”
The National Weather Service in New Orleans said moderate impacts are possible in Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana “including heavy rain, coastal flooding, and strong/damaging winds around midweek.”
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This story was originally published October 25, 2020 at 10:42 AM.
