Tropical Storm Eta is set to strike the Florida Keys as a hurricane overnight after devastating Central America
Florida is bracing for Tropical Storm Eta to hit the state as a hurricane after it pummelled Mexico and Central America, leaving scores of people dead and over 100 missing.
The US National Hurricane Center in Miami declared hurricane and storm surge warnings for the coast of southern Florida from the Keys and Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas with Eta expected to reach the area by Sunday night or early Monday.
A tropical storm watch is in effect along Florida’s west coast from Englewood to Anna Maria Island as well as for parts of western Cuba and Havana.
The storm is expected to produce flooding rain, storm surges, strong winds and high surf, and there is a danger of life-threatening inundation over the next 36 hours from rising water moving inland, according to Weather.com.
Eta made landfall in Cuba early Sunday morning as a tropical storm before moving back into the water, aiming for Florida.
As of midday Sunday Eta was centered north of Cuba with sustained winds of 65mph, located about 145 miles southeast of Marathon, Florida and about 170 miles south-southeast of Miami moving north-northwest at 17mph.
Florida is bracing for Tropical Storm Eta to hit the state as a hurricane after it pummelled over Mexico and Central America, leaving scores of people dead and over 100 missing. According to the National Hurricane Center Eta could hit as a hurricane on Sunday night into early Monday
This National Hurricane Center map shows flash flood risk through Tuesday with the southern tip of Florida facing a 20 percent moderate risk of flash flooding
The National Hurricane Center forecast six to twelve inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 18 inches across South Florida and the flood risk will continue through Tuesday. This heat map shows the bands of rain forecast to hit Florida with Eta
The storm has already left scores of people dead and missing in Central America. An aerial view of the massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, in Guatemala, on Saturday in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Eta
A person stands inside a building next to bodies recovered from a massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, in Guatemala on Saturday after Eta razed through the area
Eta's downpour flooded the villagw of Queja in Guatemala, sending communities underwater and fueling dangerous landslides
'Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Eta could become a hurricane before it reaches the Florida Keys tonight,' NHC senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.
On Sunday bands of rain started to batter the Florida Keys.
The National Hurricane Center forecast six to twelve inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 18 inches across South Florida and the flood risk will continue through Tuesday.
A gust of 60mph wind was measured by an elevated weather station on Fort Lauderdale Beach and a gust up to 53mph was observed at Palm Beach International Airport midday Sunday.
Florida officials closed beaches, ports and COVID testing sites, shut down public transportation and urged residents to stay off the street. Several shelters also opened in Miami and the Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low lying areas.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Saturday for eight South Florida counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach.
Evacuations have also been ordered in Monroe County, which includes the Keys, for residents of mobile homes, live-aboard vessels and similar units, to evacuate by 5pm Sunday.
This NOAA map shows the severe weather outlook in Florida with most of the state under marginal weather warnings
A gust of 60mph wind was measured by an elevated weather station on Fort Lauderdale Beach and a gust up to 53mph was observed at Palm Beach International Airport midday Sunday. This map shows that the tropical storm force winds have already started to hit Florida
Eta first hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday before swirling over Central America, crossing over to Cuba, then heading for Florida
This rain forecast through Thursday shows that Florida as well as neighboring Southern states and Cuba will see a downpour through Thursday
A view of strengthening Tropical Storm Eta across Cuba on Sunday aiming at the southern tip of Florida
All recreational vehicles, trailers, and campers have been told to leave the county by 9am Sunday.
All Miami-Dade County Schools and Monroe County schools are closed Monday.
Eta has already wreaked havoc in his journey across the Atlantic.
Eta initially hit Nicaragua on Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane, and authorities from Panama to Mexico were still surveying the damages following days of torrential rains during the week.
In Cuba 25,000 people had to evacuate as the storm hit and swelled rivers and flooded coastal zones. There have been no reports of deaths so far.
In Central America the storm triggered landslides and flooding that have killed dozens of people in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico and searches are underway for hundreds of missing people.
Eta hit Cuba even as searchers in Guatemala were still digging for people believed buried by a massive, rain-fueled landslide. Authorities on Sunday raised the known death toll there to 27 from 15 and said more than 100 were missing in Guatemala, many of them in the landslide in San Cristobal Verapaz.
Members of the Honduras Permanent Contingencies Commission rescue a woman from her flooded home after the passage of Storm Eta in El Progreso, Honduras on Friday
A view of a flooded street in Morales, Izabal, located near Guatemala City on Saturday
Members of search and recovery teams search for survivors in the debris of a massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, in Guatemala on Saturday in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Eta
Rescue workers pictured above searching for survivors following a massive landslide in Queja, Guatemala on Saturday
Rescue workers pictured picking through debris for signs of survivors following Saturday's landslide in Queja, Guatemala
A helicopter passes over the survey the damage of the Queja, Guatemala landslide Saturday
Some 60,000 people had been evacuated in Guatemala.
In Guatemala, search teams first had to overcome multiple landslides and deep mud just to reach the site where officials have estimated some 150 homes were devastated.
In the worst-hit village, Quejá, at least five bodies have been pulled from the mud. The Indigenous community of about 1,200 residents consisted of simple homes of wood and tin roofs clinging to the mountainside.
Rescue workers used a helicopter to evacuate survivor Emilio Caal, who said he lost as many as 40 family members and relatives.
Caal, 65, suffered a dislocated shoulder when the landslide sent rocks, trees and earth hurtling onto the home where he was about to sit down to lunch with his wife and grandchildren. Caal said he was blown several yards by the force of the slide, and that none of the others were able to get out.
'My wife is dead, my grandchildren are dead,' said Caal from a nearby hospital.
In neighboring Honduras, 68-year-old MarÃa Elena MejÃa Guadron died when the brown waters of the Chamelecon river poured into San Pedro Sula's Planeta neighborhood before dawn Thursday.
An aerial view of the massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, in Guatemala on Saturday
The heavy downpour triggered landslides in the mountainous areas of Guatemala, including Queja, leading to the deaths of local residents
A rescue dog and his handler search for survivors amid the destruction caused by a massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, Guatemala after Eta hit the region on Saturday
A semi is partially buried in Queja, in Guatemala on Saturday after Eta slammed the area
In southern Mexico, across the border from Guatemala, 20 people died as heavy rains attributed to Eta caused mudslides and swelled streams and rivers, according to Chiapas state civil defense official ElÃas Morales RodrÃguez.
The worst incident in Mexico occurred in the mountain township of Chenalho, where 10 people were swept away by a rain-swollen stream; their bodies were later found downstream.
Flooding in the neighboring state of Tabasco was so bad that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador cut short a trip to western Mexico and was flying to Tabasco, his home state, to oversee relief efforts.
At least 20 people also were reported dead in southern Mexico and local officials in Honduras reported 21, though the national disaster agency had confirmed only eight.
Pope Francis on Sunday spoke about the population of Central America, hit 'by a violent hurricane, which has caused many victims and huge damage, worsened as well by the already difficult situation due to the pandemic.'
Speaking to faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, Francis prayed that 'the Lord welcome the deceased, comfort their families and sustain all those so tried, as well as all those who are doing their best to help them.'
After hitting Florida, Eta is expected to turn west and may wander into the eastern Gulf of Mexico for a few days.