Tropical Storm Zeta will make it into the Gulf soon and turn northward toward the Gulf Coast.
It was a tropical storm with 65 mph winds as of early Tuesday morning after making landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula overnight as a hurricane. Zeta is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane again over the Gulf today, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Tropical Storm Zeta was located about 840 miles south-southwest of Birmingham or 770 miles south-southwest of Montgomery and was moving northwest at 14 mph.
A second landfall is expected on Wednesday night, likely in southeast Louisiana. Zeta could be a strong tropical storm or even a minimal hurricane at that point.
Once inland, Zeta is forecast to move across Alabama on Wednesday night.
Zeta is forecast to be moving fast, which won’t give it as much time to weaken before it makes it into Alabama, and there is more of a potential for parts of the state to see strong winds from the storm Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
Areas along the coast will face the prospect of storm surge of 2 to 8 feet as well as heavy rain, strong winds and the risk of tornadoes. The storm surge forecasts for the Alabama coast have increased this morning.
A storm surge and tropical storm warning are now in effect for Mobile and Baldwin counties.
A tropical storm warning has been extended inland as well for part of southwest Alabama.
A tropical storm watch has even been issued for some central Alabama counties.
All of Alabama could get some rain from Zeta, with southwest Alabama forecast to get the most:
Parts of Alabama could get up to 6 inches of rain from Zeta as it crosses over the state on Wednesday and Thursday.
Here’s a look at what forecasters are expecting from Zeta:
SOUTH ALABAMA
The probabilities continue to increase that Alabama will see tropical storm force winds (39 mph and higher) from Zeta on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service in Mobile said coastal and inland areas in southwest Alabama should expect strong winds, heavy rain, rip currents and storm surge as Zeta makes landfall.
A few tornadoes will also be possible.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the Alabama coast by Wednesday afternoon and extend inland through the evening.
The real impacts from Zeta are expected overnight Wednesday, the weather service said.
A tropical storm warning is in effect along the coast as well as inland counties, including Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox.
Forecasters were worried about the potential for downed trees as winds from Zeta reach the area hit by Hurricane Sally.
“We are particularly concerned for those who live near weakened trees associated with Hurricane Sally’s landfall just over a month ago,” forecasters said. “If leaning and/or weakened trees are near your home, please have a plan to prepare and be as safe as possible!”
A storm surge warning has also been issued for Mobile and Baldwin counties, including Mobile Bay.
Areas along the Alabama coast could see anywhere from 3 to 8 feet of storm surge.
Forecasters said storm surge will be possible along the coast and into the bay starting on Wednesday evening and lasting into Thursday.
The storm surge forecasts have increased as of Tuesday morning. Now Five to 8 feet will be possible on Dauphin Island, with 3 to 5 feet possible farther east to Navarre, Fla., including Mobile and Pensacola bays.
“However, these numbers may increase or decrease depending on the eventual track, intensity and forward speed of Zeta,” the weather service said.
There could also be tornadoes as Zeta moves onshore. The window of concern will be Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the weather service said.
Three to 6 inches of rain will be possible from Zeta and an approaching cold front for southwest Alabama, with 1 to 3 inches possible farther east.
Forecasters said some areas west of Interstate 65 could get up to 8 inches of rain.
See the complete hurricane local statement here.
The remnants of Zeta are forecast to move out of the area by Thursday night.
CENTRAL ALABAMA
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Birmingham were concerned about the potential for high winds from Zeta as it tracks across central Alabama late Wednesday into Thursday.
A tropical storm watch has been extended inland into parts of central Alabama, including Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Marengo, Montgomery and Perry counties.
The weather service said an area of 40 to 50 mph wind gusts will be possible along and to the right of Zeta’s track, which as of Tuesday morning is expected to be roughly south of Interstate 59.
Gusts of 50 to 60 mph will be possible across south-central Alabama.
Two to 4 inches of rain will be possible across central Alabama with locally higher amounts.
There will also be a low tornado threat across the southern and southeastern part of central Alabama, forecasters said.
See the complete hurricane local statement here.
NORTH ALABAMA
Widespread rain, not from Zeta, is expected to affect north Alabama starting late tonight and last into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.
There could be a break in the rain late Wednesday morning or into the afternoon before Zeta enters the picture.
The center of Zeta is forecast to track south and east of the region but will bring another round of rain to the region late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
If Zeta’s forecast track holds, then the highest winds and heaviest rains look to be possible in Marshall and DeKalb counties, the weather service said. Winds late Wednesday night into Thursday morning could gust up to 30 to 40 mph across Marshall and DeKalb, forecasters said.
Forecasters aren’t expecting severe weather but said there could be a few downed trees from the combination of saturating rain and gusty winds.
Two to 3 inches of rain will be possible across the region but widespread flooding isn’t expected.
A cold front is forecast to move across the region on Thursday and Zeta will race out of the area ahead of it. Rain chances will decrease on Thursday and cooler and drier air is expected to move in.
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Tropical Storm Zeta to bring high winds, heavy rain, power outages to Alabama on Wednesday, Thursday - AL.com
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