Tropical Storm Zeta is expected to reach hurricane strength before making landfall over the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.
Zeta, the 27th named storm in the Atlantic during the 2020 hurricane season, became more of an organized storm on Sunday night. According to the 10 a.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. The wind threshold for a storm to become a hurricane is 74 mph.
“Hurricane conditions and dangerous storm surge are expected in portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico tonight and early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions could occur over extreme western Cuba beginning later today,” the National Hurricane Center advised.
“Zeta is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday, and there is an increasing risk of dangerous storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Zeta, as Hurricane and Storm watches will likely be issued later today,” the NHC added.
The storm is not expected to be as strong as Hurricane Delta was weeks ago, as it’s currently projected to make landfall on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Hurricane Delta made headlines earlier this month when it approached Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. The hurricane brought further damage to the area where Hurricane Laura came through just six weeks prior.
Here are the latest Key Messages for #Zeta, which is expected to bring hurricane conditions and dangerous storm surge to the northern Yucatan Peninsula later today and tonight https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/ioApjFaTpN
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 26, 2020
Tropical Storm #Zeta Advisory 8: Hurricane Conditions and a Dangerous Storm Surge Likely Over Portions of the Yucatan Peninsula By Late Today. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 26, 2020
On Sunday, the NHC noted that this hurricane season could set the record for most recorded named storms. “For those counting, 2005 still holds the record for the most number of named storms in a season, 28. NHC identified an ‘unnamed’ subtropical storm in its post-season analysis that year, which is included in the total. With #Zeta, the number for 2020 currently stands at 27,” the NHC said in a tweet.
