ORLANDO, Fla. — Eta made landfall early Thursday near Cedar Key, on Florida’s west coast. But is has since moved away from Florida. It is the 28th-named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Read live updates below:
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10 p.m. update
We’re close to having our 30th named system for the season.
Iota is trying to form in the Caribbean. Channel 9 Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said it should stay south but bring another round of devastating flood waters to Central America.
9 p.m. update
Tropical Storm Eta dumped torrents of blustery rain on Florida’s west coast as it moved over Florida after making landfall north of the heavily populated Tampa Bay area Thursday morning, triggering some flooding but no major damage.
6:15 p.m. update
Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said we are close to having our 30th named system for the season, this time in the Caribbean.
He said Iota should stay south and could bring another round of devastating flooding to Central America.
4:45 p.m. update
After its fourth and final landfall, Eta is moving farter northeast off of the Georgia coast.
The storm is bringing flooding rain to the Carolinas with the help of a cold front that is stalled near the middle east coast, chief meteorologist Tom Terry said.
Read: ‘We heard a loud crash’: Tree crashes through roof above sleeping boy amid Tropical Storm Eta
He said Central Florida saw 1′ to 2′ of rain, while the metro Tampa area experienced 8′ to 10′ of rain.
“We are not done yet in the tropics, as we’ll likely have Iota soon,” Terry said. “This could bring more catastrophic flooding to Central America near Nicaragua and Honduras -- the same areas that were flooded by Eta a week ago.”
Photos: Tropical Storm Eta dumps blustery rain on west Florida, makes 2nd landfall near Cedar Key
He said there are no major global models that bring that system toward Florida yet.
“But we’re watching it,” Terry said.
4:15 p.m. update
The last bit of Tropical Storm Eta is finally moving away from Florida.
Some areas will continue to see scattered downpours and showers Thursday afternoon, including Osceola and Brevard counties.
Tom Terry is tracking some big changes to the forecast ahead of the weekend. Hint: Cooler, drier weather is on the horizon.
Click here to watch his live forecast on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4, and click here to download the free WFTV weather app.
12:50 p.m. update
A Marion County man said a tree fell onto his roof landing right where his 6-year-old son was sleeping around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
Read more about what the family said happened here.
11:50 a.m. update
Channel 9 meteorologist Kassandra Crimi said Eta is continuing to pull away from Florida, which means all tropical storm warnings have been dropped in Central Florida.
See what impacts the system will continue to bring to our area’s forecast on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon. Click here to tune in LIVE.
11:30 a.m. update
Overnight, workers had to help pull cars through flooded streets in Madeira Beach.
See video below:
Click here to watch live forecast updates on Eyewitness News at Noon.
10:40 a.m. update
Video is continuing to come in from across the state of the impacts from Tropical Storm Eta.
Watch below as first responders help clean up damage from the storm in St. Pete Beach:
9:30 a.m. update
Health officials said the COVID-19 testing site at the Disney Maingate complex will be closed until 1 p.m.
To find another testing location in Osceola County, click here.
8:15 a.m. update
Rain bands move along I-4
Rain bands from Tropical Storm Eta are moving along Interstate 4.
Most areas in Central Florida will experience some isolated rain bands through the morning, but the weather will improve as the day progresses.
Eta will continue to move across Florida through the day.
7:35 a.m. update
SunRail temporarily suspends service
SunRail said it has temporarily suspended service Thursday due to inclement weather.
SunRail said it will monitor the weather and keep the community up to date as the storm passes through the area.
Regular service will resume as it’s safe.
7 a.m. update
Eta weakens as it continues to move across Florida
Tropical Storm Eta is continuing to move across northeastern Florida Thursday morning and will move over the western Atlantic by the afternoon.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds have decreased to 45 mph.
Forecasters said Eta could reintensify as a nontropical cyclone Friday before it is absorbed by a larger nontropical cyclone on Saturday.
6:20 a.m. update:
Tropical Storm Eta continues to weaken
Isolated rain moves over Central Florida. The showers will become more scarce through the morning hours. We do not expect severe weather.
By the afternoon, the skies will be gradually clearing and some sunshine will brighten the day. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
The winds will be from the southwest, providing plenty of warmth, breezy, and gusting up to 20 mph.
The same cold front that is pushing Eta eastward will be moving over Central Florida on Friday. We do not expect rains associated with this front, but it will bring us a nice Friday and weekend.
The weekend promises to be mostly stable. Plenty of sunshine and highs in the mid-80s. The winds will be from the northeast.
A stronger cold front is scheduled for early next week.
Click here to download the free WFTV weather app so you can receive live updates on Eta. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
5:20 a.m. update:
Tropical Storm Eta over Florida
Eta will produce an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain across portions of the Florida Peninsula through today.
Central Florida could experience some isolated rain bands through the early morning, but the weather will improve as the day progresses.
Expect the day to remain toasty with highs between 85 and 87.
We have something fresh to look forward next week: The next cold front promises to bring lower humidity and cooler temps!
4:20 a.m. update:
Tropical Storm Eta makes its second Florida landfall, this time in Cedar Key with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
This also makes Eta’s fourth landfall. (Nicaragua, Cuba, Florida Keys, and now Cedar Key)
4:00 a.m. update:
Tropical Storm Eta is about to make landfall near Cedar Key Florida, as it is still producing dangerous storm surge, heavy rains and gusty winds for portions of the Florida gulf coast and northern Florida peninsula.
Eta continues to lose its punch. The National Hurricane Center estimates that Eta has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and it is forecast to continue weakening as it moves over land. It could re-intensify as a non-tropical cyclone on Thursday and Friday before becoming absorbed by a larger non-tropical cyclone on Saturday over the western Atlantic.
It has finally made its turn to the northeast, and it is moving at 13mph. An increase in forward speed is forecast once over land and as it continues over the western Atlantic.
A National Ocean Service station near Cedar Key recently reported sustained winds of 40 mph and a gust of 50 mph.
A flash flood watch is in effect for areas well west of Central Florida, but includes Polk and Sumter counties, until 1 p.m. Any additional rain that falls over these counties could create flooding. Some places in these areas have received over 4 inches of rain.
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FORECAST
Isolated rain bands through the rest of the morning, before sunrise.
After sunrise, expect gradual improvement, with the winds decreasing and the skies clearing.
It’s going to be a hot day, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s.
3:00 a.m. update:
The heaviest rains are becoming more isolated across Central Florida. In Marion County, where the center of the system is expected to move north of, is under light rain. Channel 9′s reporter Alexa Lorenzo reports gusty winds, but not intense at the moment.
2:15 a.m. update:
The heaviest rain is focused along Volusia and Flagler counties. Showers have become more intermittent in intensity over the rest of Central Florida.
There could still be some intense bands moving through our area, but they won’t be widespread.
The severe weather threat has diminished across the region, but the risk for some gusty winds will continue through the rest of the morning hours, until mid morning
1:30 a.m. update:
1 a.m. update:
The 1 a.m. intermediate advisory from the National Hurricane Center states that Tropical Storm Eta is about 65 miles to the northwest of Tampa.
The tropical storm holds 60 mph maximum sustained winds and it is still traveling to the north at 10 mph.
The Tropical Storm Warning south of Englewood has been discontinued.
Eta is expected to take a turn to the north-northeast later this morning.
The system is expected to continue weakening as it approaches the west coast of Florida and is expected to be over the Atlantic by Thursday afternoon.
A National Ocean Service station near Clearwater Beach recently reported sustained winds of 40 mph and a gust of 52 mph. A University of South Florida station in Fred Howard Park near Tarpon Springs recently measured sustained winds of 41 mph ( and a gust of 53 mph.
Scroll down for the latest track and threats to Central Florida.
THE COMPLEX TROPICS: What do they mean? Disturbance, depressions, tropical, subtropical storms, hurricanes
12:45 a.m. update:
Check out reports coming from Tampa.
Tampa Riverwalk flooded.
Click here to download the free WFTV weather app so you can receive live updates on Eta. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
Read updates from Crystal River all the way across the state to Volusia County here.
READ: Floridians from coast to coast preparing for Tropical Storm Eta
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12:30 a.m. update:
The heavy rain bands arrived to Central Florida’s Metro areas shortly before midnight on Thursday. The next 4 hours will be the most intense as the strong showers with embedded storms move, mainly west to east.
Some storms could have rotation. This could trigger tornado warnings. Make sure you have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts.
Read: Hurricane Eta: These Central Florida schools will be closed due to storm
CENTRAL FLORIDA THREATS:
Rain: between 1 to 3 inches are possible across Central Florida and isolated higher amounts where rain bands become more persistent.
Tornadoes: conditions are still favorable for tornadoes to develop.
Read: Storm safety: What to do when a tornado warning is issued in your area
Coastal flooding and high surf will continue through Thursday.
Eta is forecast to sweep north of Central Florida, likely exiting near Jacksonville before sunrise.
Weather will become much more stable after sunrise, with the winds gradually decreasing.
Tropical Storm Eta timeline: Wednesday, Nov. 11
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