#15,521
For the 7th time this hurricane season the Northern Gulf of Mexico is under the gun (previous storms: Cristobal, Laura, Marco, Sally, Beta & Delta), with now Hurricane Zeta expected to make landfall in roughly 48 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch is also in effect from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line in Florida, and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City in Louisiana.
Zeta is the 27th named storm, and 12th hurricane in this remarkably active Atlantic Hurricane season, and there are still 5 more weeks left to the season. Only 2005 (with 28 named storms & 15 hurricanes), exceeds this year's tropical output.
From the 5pm (EST) Discussion by the NHC:
By now, everyone along the northern Gulf of Mexico knows the drill, but the key messages from the NHC at 5pm are worth noting.Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible before Zeta makes landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. Some weakening is likely while Zeta moves over the Yucatan Peninsula late tonight and early Tuesday. Zeta is forecast to strengthen again when it moves over the southern Gulf of Mexico later on Tuesday and be at or near hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
Zeta is currently forecast to be a fast moving CAT 1 storm at landfall, and there may be a tornado threat in inland areas of Mississippi and Alabama Wednesday night. Right now, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center is currently warning of the potential for tornado/damaging-gust hazards.
Intensity predictions, however, are the least reliable of the forecast products from the NHC and may be adjusted at the storm approaches the coastline.
