10/26/2020: The center of Tropical Storm Zeta was located by a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 18.7 North, longitude 84.3 West. Zeta is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. A northwestward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected over the day or so, followed by a turn toward the north Tuesday night. A faster northward to north-northeastward motion is forecast on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will move near or over the northern Yucatan Peninsula later today or tonight, move over the southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, and approach the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Zeta is expected to become a hurricane later this morning. Additional strengthening is expected before Zeta moves over the Yucatan Peninsula. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center. The latest minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA reconnaissance aircraft data is 990 mb.
Event Updates
There are no updates at this moment
Hurricane Wind Scale
Category 1 (74-95 mph): Very dangerous winds will produce some damage
Category 2 (96-110 mph): Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage
Category 3 (111-129 mph): Devastating damage will occur
Category 4 (130-156 mph): Catastrophic damage will occur
Category 5 (157+ mph): Catastrophic damage will occur
