Tropical Storm Eta hit the Florida Keys Sunday night, with tropical storm conditions likely to continue across Florida throughout Monday.
The National Hurricane Center said southern Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas will continue to experience heavy rainfall as the storm heads into the Gulf of Mexico before a sharp northward turn.
“Life-threatening flash flooding will be possible across inundated urban areas of southeast Florida today,” the NHC warned. “Flash and urban flooding will also be possible for Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas and the remainder of southern Florida, along with potential minor river flooding in central Florida.”
Tropical Storm #Eta is located just off the southwest coast of Florida. Here are the 4 am EST Key Messages. For more information, visit https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB and https://t.co/SiZo8ohZMN pic.twitter.com/R2BUOyfnS6
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 9, 2020
The NHC said to expect rainfall totals in some areas of about 2 feet. Storm surges along the coast of Florida could raise water levels anywhere from 2 to 4 feet above normal tides.
The weather service expects that Eta will restrengthen into a hurricane Tuesday into Wednesday as it moves southward, but by Thursday morning, as it approaches central Florida, the NHC expects that it will again be downgraded to a tropical storm.
“Rainfall flooding may be compounded by coastal flooding in some areas, with neighborhoods prone to poor long-term drainage likely to have flooded streets for a few days,” according to an update from Key West’s Monroe County. “Preparations should be completed for the possibility of category 1 hurricane conditions.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for eight different counties ahead of Eta’s landfall. Florida Power & Light said that it “estimates a significant number of customers from the Treasure Coast to Miami-Dade County and areas throughout Southwest Florida could experience power outages as severe weather affects Florida’s southern peninsula for several days. In some areas, customers could experience more than one outage as weather bands move through.”
As a result of the storm, Oakland Park announced that its water systems are already “at or near capacity.”
“Unfortunately, with this much rain in such a short period, there is only so much the system can handle,” the city wrote in an update. “We are at or near capacity. Crews will remain active throughout the overnight hours to respond to concerns to the best of our ability.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county opened its evacuation center on Saturday and issued a warning to residents to secure objects that wind could impact, NBC 6 of Miami reported.
“All residents should secure objects that winds could blow around, such as garbage carts, patio furniture, garden tools and toys,” the mayor’s office said in a press release.
