ORLANDO, Fla. — Eta weakened to a tropical storm early Wednesday morning after it made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Nicaragua on Tuesday.
10 p.m. update
Tropical Storm Eta forecast to head to South Florida, but path uncertain
Channel 9 chief meteorologist Tom Terry said Eta is weaker and still over land, but is expected by Friday to get back over water and swing northeast toward Cuba, and near South Florida.
He said there are lots of “moving parts” in the forecast, so there’s uncertainty surrounding the eventual path.
10PM #Eta: Weaker and still over land, but expected by Friday to get back over water and swing NE toward Cuba, and near south Florida. Lots of 'moving parts' in the forecast, so still uncertainty on the eventual path. Tracking live at 10/11p. #EyeonTropics pic.twitter.com/9gh1vVThxh
— Tom Terry (@TTerryWFTV) November 5, 2020
4 p.m. update
Tropical Storm Eta forecast to near South Florida on Sunday or Monday
Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said according to the latest track there’s the potential for a tropical system to be near South Florida on Sunday or Monday.
The system is expected to send wet weather to Central Florida.
Tropical Storm Eta's 4pm update. Track a little wiggly - lots of uncertainty here, just realize there's potential for a tropical system somewhere near South Florida by Sunday/Monday. Regardless of path, we have a wet forecast in Central Florida by weekend/early next week. pic.twitter.com/8Eet43h0Jd
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) November 4, 2020
Noon update
Weakened Tropical Storm Eta forecast to track near Florida late this weekend
Tropical Storm Eta is trying to survive after making landfall yesterday in Nicaragua
Channel 9 meteorologist Rusty McCranie said all eyes are watching the system to see if it can stay organized enough to move back into the Caribbean.
If it does so, it is forecast to track toward the Florida Keys as a tropical storm late this weekend.
McCranie said he is least confident in the forecast of how strong or weak the storm will end up as it tracks east toward Florida.
>>> Click here to tune in to Eyewitness News at Noon for live updates <<<
10am Wednesday: All eyes will be on Eta this week to see if it can survive and move back into the Caribbean. Track from the NHC has shifted slightly west at the end, taking Eta over the Keys as a tropical storm late this weekend, and then possibly into the Gulf. pic.twitter.com/Lt6F9CN60b
— Rusty McCranie (@RMcCranieWFTV) November 4, 2020
Eta: GFS vs Euro. GFS does not develop Eta into anything significant. Euro is much stronger. As high pressure builds in NE FL, may steer Eta into Gulf as it becomes stronger. Out of all the uncertainties, I'm least confident in the strength forecast. pic.twitter.com/MbjLlvK5CM
— Rusty McCranie (@RMcCranieWFTV) November 4, 2020
5 a.m. update
Storm weakens to tropical storm, could redevelop near Florida over the weekend
Overnight, Eta weakened to a tropical storm. It continues to bring life-threatening flash flooding to portions of Central America.
The center of Eta is expected to move over northern Nicaragua through Wednesday morning. It is forecast to move over central portions of Honduras through Thursday morning.
The storm’s winds have decreased to 70 mph. It is expected to continue to weaken as it moves over land. Forecasters believe Eta will become a tropical depression by Wednesday night.
Meteorologist Brian Shields said Eta will emerge over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday. It will then approach South Florida as a tropical storm over the weekend. After that, it could swing west into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Eta *COULD* be near South Florida late weekend. Then, the models hint at it moving back west. Too early to tell. Either way, our rain chance goes up with an easterly flow. I'll see you on 9! pic.twitter.com/vefdkpnvtp
— Brian Shields (@BrianShieldsFL) November 4, 2020
>>> Click here to tune in to Eyewitness News This Morning for live updates <<<
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/43UE55W56BEVBAHVGLHHNJR3W4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/UVKLN54ZORB75G32OSCEYDD3NA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/5C23EEJGRRARXGR6LNN3E2RFTM.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/TROAIUUDGFCZNJXRGSAW4SDEGU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/56TRQG7PNRCJNJ4Z7YRL6CPOOA.jpeg)