Eta is the latest tropical system likely to make its move toward to the U.S. coastline in the active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Eta weakened to a depression over Central America, but it has moved back over the warm water of the Caribbean Friday morning. Atmospheric conditions make re-strengthening into a tropical storm a good possibility later Friday or Saturday. Days of occasional heavy rainfall may increase the risk of flooding over saturated South Florida late this upcoming weekend into early next week ahead of what is likely to be Tropical Storm Eta in the Caribbean.
The forecast path of Eta is more uncertain than usual which will alter rainfall amounts, but 6 to 10 inches of rain is possible in Southeast Florida starting Friday and lasting through the middle of next week. Over the past 30 days, data from rain gauges and radar indicate parts of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties have experienced 200 to 300 percent of their average rainfall, making these areas particularly vulnerable to flooding because of the wet conditions so far this fall season.
It doesn't take much to flood metro areas of Southeast Florida. They've had 200-300% of their average rainfall in the past 30 days. Even if amounts end up on the lower end of what's likely, some flooding is a strong possibility. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/9e94BkCVbE
— Ray Hawthorne (@ray_hawthorne) November 6, 2020
Eta's effects are likely to last well into next week. The forecast cone brings the center of the storm into the Gulf of Mexico or near southwest Florida on Monday and Tuesday. Direct effects are unlikely in the Palmetto State through early next week, but some are possible later in the week depending on the exact track of the storm.