Tropical Storm Eta – Update #5 – 11/8/2020

University of Florida officials are continuing to monitor Tropical Storm Eta. Here’s what we know today:  

 

Heavy rainfall will continue across Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas and southern Florida and spread north into the rest of Florida.  

 

Tropical Storm Eta is now forecasted to be a hurricane as it passes near and over the Florida Keys and into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday. The forecast remains uncertain for areas farther north in Florida.  

 

Hurricane conditions are expected by early Monday in portions of the Florida Keys, where a hurricane warning is now in effect. Damaging tropical-storm-force winds are expected to begin in the Florida Keys this afternoon. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Monroe County, and hurricane watches have been issued for coastal Broward, Miami-Dade, coastal Collier and Monroe counties.  

 

Tropical storm warnings are also in effect for Glades, Hendry, Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Tropical storm watches have been issued for Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Lee, Charlotte and Brevard counties as well.  

 

A dangerous storm surge is expected in portions of the Florida Keys, where a storm surge warning is in effect. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible in any of the outer bands, possibly beginning Sunday across South Florida and the Keys, spreading northward into early next week. 
 

Flood watches are also in effect through late Monday for Indian River, St, Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties. Flood watches have been issued for Glades, Hendry, Collier, mainland Monroe, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties until Tuesday evening, and for Charlotte and Lee counties through Wednesday evening.  

 

UF units with operations in South Florida, the Florida Keys and Central Florida should closely monitor forecasts and be ready to follow guidance from local officials.  

 

No tropical storm warnings or watches are currently in place for Alachua County, and no operation changes are anticipated for the UF campus in Gainesville. A slight chance for thunderstorms exists for the weekend and into early next week with increasing chances for shower activity. We will continue to monitor and update the UF community on expected impacts or schedule changes as information becomes available.  

 

For more information, please visit National Hurricane Center