Disaster Discourse: The Hagerty Blog

Tropical Storm Eta Moves Across Florida, Bringing Heavy Rainfall and Tropical Storm Force Winds

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 AS OF 3:00 PM EST

Tropical Storm Eta is approximately 10 miles southwest of Jacksonville, Florida, moving north-northwest at 15 miles per hour (mph) with maximum sustained wind speeds of 45 mph. Eta is expected to increase speed in a northeastward direction toward the Atlantic ocean over the next several days. The center of Eta is expected to reach the western Atlantic ocean by early Thursday afternoon.

Christopher-Lorenzo C: Unsplash

Florida and southeastern Georgia have already experienced heavy rain and gusty winds brought about by Eta. The storm made landfall near Cedar Key, Florida at 4 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Thursday, with the NHC recording maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Eta is projected to accelerate over the western Atlantic and track parallel to, but offshore of, the Carolinas this evening and tomorrow morning, before moving east of the Mid-Atlantic coast by tomorrow night. Eta is expected to move faster in a northeastward direction toward the western Atlantic ocean over the next several days. Eta is expected to bring one to three inches of rain over parts of the Florida Peninsula throughout the day today, with isolated storm total accumulations of 20 to 25 inches in south Florida.

PowerOutage.US recorded 28,192 power outages in Florida after Eta made landfall on the southwest coast of the state on Thursday, November 12; with Miami-Dade County experiencing 1,324 outages. ABC-affiliated WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida reported one fatality from Manatee County, Florida as a result of the storm.

The NHC issued a tropical storm warning for Flagler/Volusia County along the Florida line, northward to St. Andrews Sound in Georgia. There is a risk of localized flash and urban flooding over the Florida Peninsula on Thursday, while tropical storm conditions are anticipated over the east coast of Florida through the afternoon.

Michael Meigs: Unsplash

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides guidance for individuals preparing for, experiencing, or affected by hurricanes and tropical storms. FEMA has reminded residents impacted by Tropical Storm Eta to stay vigilant and adhere to warnings and alerts notifying situational changes in the storm’s activity. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) for up to five locations nationwide. Sign up for community alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which requires no-sign up. Individuals should heed the warnings of local authorities and prepare for hurricane and severe weather conditions. 

Disaster Supplies Checklist, National Weather Service/NOAA

In addition to the resources made available by FEMA, NOAA’s National Hurricane Preparedness site provides guides for determining your risk, developing an evacuation plan, creating a go-bag and essential supply kit, and hurricane preparation during COVID-19. 

Public Advisories

Here’s the breakdown of public advisories from NOAA’s NHC:

TROPICAL STORM WARNING: 

  • Flagler/Volusia County on the Florida Line, northward to St. Andrews Sound, Georgia

RELATED STORIES


Keep track of Hagerty’s coverage here:

HURRICANE SEASON 2020