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Hurricane Zeta

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For other tropical cyclones named Zeta, see Tropical Storm Zeta.

Hurricane Zeta
Current storm status
Category 1 hurricane (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:4:00 p.m. CDT (21:00 UTC) October 27
Location:22°42′N 90°18′W / 22.7°N 90.3°W / 22.7; -90.3 (Hurricane Zeta) ± 20 nm
About 450 miles (720 km) S of the mouth of the Mississippi River
Sustained winds:80 kn (90 mph; 150 km/h) (1-min mean)
gusting to 95 kn (110 mph; 175 km/h)
Pressure:978 mbar (28.88 inHg)
Movement:NW at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Zeta is currently a rapidly intensifying Category 1 hurricane that struck the Yucatán Peninsula and is threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast. The twenty-seventh named storm and eleventh hurricane of the exceptionally active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Zeta formed from a broad area of low pressure that formed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 19. After battling wind shear, the low organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight on October 24. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta early on October 25 before becoming a hurricane the next day. Hurricane Zeta made landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula late on October 26 and weakened while inland to a tropical storm, before moving off the northern coast of the peninsula on October 27.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

At 00:00 UTC on October 15, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the southern Caribbean Sea for the possible development of a broad area of low pressure over the region.[1] By 18:00 UTC on October 19, a trough of low pressure had formed in the western Caribbean, but unfavorable upper-level winds hindered further development.[2] An assessment of conditions on October 20 led the NHC to conclude by 18:00 UTC that the system had no chance of development.[3] Three days later, however, new satellite images and radar data showed that the system, then located just west of Grand Cayman Island, was gradually becoming better defined.[4] By 21:00 UTC on October 24, the system had organized enough to be designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight.[5] At 06:00 UTC the following morning, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta,[6] becoming the earliest 27th Atlantic tropical or subtropical storm on record, surpassing the old mark of November 29, which was set by 2005's Hurricane Epsilon.[4] After remaining nearly stationary for over a day, the storm began to move northwestward towards the Yucatán Peninsula. Zeta soon began to rapidly intensify, reaching just below hurricane strength before wind shear again disrupted its convective organization.[7] However, this turned out to be short-lived as new burst of convection allowed Zeta to become a hurricane at 19:10 UTC on October 26.[8] It made landfall north of Tulum, Mexico, at 04:00 UTC on October 27 with winds of 80 mph and a 977 mbar pressure,[9] and weakened to a tropical storm after moving inland on the Yucatán Peninsula.[10] Zeta moved offshore of the northern coast of the peninsula by 15:00 UTC.[11]

Current storm information

As of 7:00 p.m. CDT (21:00 UTC) October 27, Hurricane Zeta is located within 20 nautical miles of 26°00′N 91°42′W / 26.0°N 91.7°W / 26.0; -91.7 (Zeta), about 450 miles (720 km) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Maximum sustained winds are 55 knots (65 mph; 100 km/h), with gusts to 80 knots (90 mph; 150 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 978 mbar (28.88 inHg), and the system is moving northwest at 15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h). Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center.

For the latest official information, see:

Watches and warnings

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable

Preparations

Zeta was the third tropical cyclone of October 2020 to threaten Western Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Cayman Islands and Jamaica

Flash flood warnings were issued in parts of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, where a small craft warning was also issued in the latter.[12][13]

Cuba

Upon formation, a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the Cuban province of Pinar Del Rio.[14]

Mexico

In Quintana Roo, people were still recovering from Hurricane Delta, which hit the region a little more than a week prior. The state government set up several shelters for residents and tourists, while transport was suspended.[15]

United States

Hurricane watches were issued for eastern and central coastal Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. A tropical storm watch was also issued for areas east of Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana as well as coastal Alabama. Storm surge watches were issued for the entire area as well.[16]

Louisiana

On October 26, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency for the entire state.[17] The town of Grand Isle issued a mandatory evacuation on October 27 as a voluntary evacuation was ordered for Jean Lafitte that same day.[18]

Mississippi

Schools in Pascagoula, Gautier, Biloxi, and Long Beach were closed on October 28 and 29 although schools in Pascagoula and Gautier only had early releases on October 28.[19]

Impact

Cayman Islands and Jamaica

A man and his daughter were killed in Jamaica after a landslide hit the family’s home on October 24. The landslide was due to heavy rain likely from the precursor to Zeta.[20]

Mexico

Tree branches were littered across flooded streets in Playa del Carmen, near where Zeta made landfall.[21] However, Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin stated on Twitter that no major damage or casualties had been reported in the state. He also allowed airports and business to re-open just hours after landfall, but forced beaches to remain close until surf calmed.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Stacy Stewart (October 14, 2020). "Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Daniel Brown (October 19, 2020). "Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  3. ^ Dave Roberts (October 20, 2020). "Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Shepherd, Marshall (October 23, 2020). "Zeta May Be Forming In The Caribbean – Why That's Odd (And Not)". forbes.com. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Eric Blake (October 24, 2020). "Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight Advisory Number 1". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Stacy Stewart (October 25, 2020). "Tropical Storm Zeta Intermediate Advisory Number 2A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Richard Pasch (October 26, 2020). "Tropical Storm ZETA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Michael Brennan, Richard Pasch (October 26, 2020). "Hurricane ZETA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  9. ^ Daniel Brown, Stacy R. Stewart (October 26, 2020). "Hurricane ZETA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  10. ^ Daniel Brown (October 27, 2020). "Tropical Storm ZETA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Richard Pasch (October 27, 2020). "Tropical Storm ZETA". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  12. ^ Nadine-Wilson Harris (October 24, 2020). "Severe Weather Triggers Flooding, Landslides And Blocked Roads". The Gleaner. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  13. ^ Cayman Compass Staff (October 25, 2020). "Tropical Storm Zeta to bring more rain, rough seas". Cayman Compass. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Eric Blake (October 24, 2020). "Tropical Depression Twenty-eight Forecast Advisory". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  15. ^ https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2020/10/27/huracan-zeta-en-el-caribe-mexicano/
  16. ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2020/al28/al282020.public.009.shtml?
  17. ^ "State of Emergency-Tropical Storm Zeta" (PDF). gov.louisiana.gov. State of Louisiana. October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Emma Discher (October 27, 2020). "As Hurricane Zeta heads towards Louisiana, some parishes order evacuations; see a list". nola.com. NOLA.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  19. ^ WLOX Staff (October 27, 2020). "LIST: Schools announce closures, distance learning ahead of Hurricane Zeta". wlox.com. WLOX. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  20. ^ Stabroek News (October 24, 2020). "Double tragedy in Jamaica – Father killed, daughter missing after landslide covers house". Stabroek News. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  21. ^ "Fallen Branches Line Flooded Streets as Zeta Hits Playa del Carmen". thechronicle.com.au. The Chronicle. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  22. ^ Gabriel Alcocer (October 27, 2020). "Hurricane warning for New Orleans as Zeta swirls over Mexico". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
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